Candidate blog series: President of Council candidate Jane Grote (R)

I have spent the second and fourth Tuesday of each month (except July) for 23 of the last 24 years at Norwood City Council meetings as either the President of Council or Clerk of Council. This has given me a unique position as an observer of the tremendous changes which have occurred in my hometown.

I have seen Surrey Square built and I have seen it transformed. I have seen factories closed and I have seen retail stores never known in Cincinnati opening. in Norwood. I have seen railroad tracks removed from the Central Business District and debates on light rail which would return railroad tracks to Montgomery Road. I have seen police cars sponsored by local businesses because the city had no money to buy them and new police officers hired when no other community could afford to do so. I have seen houses change from multiple sleeping rooms to one-family dwellings and over 150 houses disappear altogether. I have seen grade schools close and technical colleges open. I have seen Norwood made the butt of jokes and Norwood admired for its progress. I have seen lawsuits, bickering, and citizens coming together for the good of the City. I have seen three Mayors, two Treasurers, two Auditors, five Law Directors and nearly a hundred different council members. In the words of the poet, what a long, strange trip it has been! And one that I have enjoyed thoroughly. I hope to have another two years as a witness to history of the town I truly love.

Jane Grote