Monroe City Council members serve four-year terms and receive $3,500 per year.
Callahan is a retired business owner who was asked by others to run for a council seat to bring his ideas and business skills to the city.
“I was a business owner for 35 years,” he said. “I have common sense, I listen to people and solve problems. I want to be involved with the city and help make it better.”
The Niederlander Road resident said traffic issues are a focus for him. At a recent forum, he said the warehouse traffic needs to be slowed because of the large volume o and added the Salzman Road extension has been “blessing” in reducing truck traffic.
Callahan, 65, said he wants to be involved in the development of the Monroe Bicentennial Commons Park project at the site that was formerly the Americana/LeSourdsville amusement park on Ohio 4. He suggested that camping be allowed in that park.
As the city continues to grow residentially, Callahan said more middle class and higher-end subdivisions are needed.
Clark, 46, said he believes he has the right experience, is fiscally responsible, and takes his job as a seriously.
The Cornerstone Drive resident, who is seeking a second full term on council, said growth was the city’s most pressing issue. He’s also concerned about public safety.
“How we manage business and residential growth is critical,” he said. “We have more than enough warehouses. We need to be smart how we grow.”
In the past year, Clark has been vocal about the number of warehouse facilities being built in the city and said the city needs to develop and attract higher-paying jobs in science and technology.
If re-elected, Clark said council will be working on opening the new police facility on South Main Street redeveloping of the former Americana/LeSourdsville site into Monroe Bicentennial Commons Park.
“Monroe is a great town but we can always do better,” he said. “That’s what we’re working on.”
MORE: Read more on the candidates on the Journal-News Voter Guide
Frentzel, who is seeking a second term on council, said his family's tradition of giving back to the community sparked his interest in running for a council seat four years ago.
The Heritage Green Drive resident was a regular attendee of council meetings even before his first council term, during which he said he learned plenty.
“It took a year for me to get my feet underneath me,” Frentzel said.
He said the biggest issue facing Monroe is how to allocate undeveloped land in the city. Frentzel said the city needs to work with the Monroe school district if tax incentives are used. He also said city officials should find ways to develop partnerships to provide more amenities to residents.
“There have been things that have come up with the old master plan,” he said. “The new comprehensive master plan will determine the next steps.”
Frentzel, 39, said completing the new comprehensive master plan, continuing the development of the new parks and getting the new police facility completed are top projects in the coming year.
Funk said Monroe's pressing issues are managing growth and traffic and working collaboratively with the Monroe Local Schools as new residential housing and businesses come to the city.
“Not all growth is good growth,” he said.
Funk, 35, said Monroe “is heading in the right direction” as it develops its parks and maintains public safety services for residents. He said increasing the quality of life for residents and focusing on the parks will be a five- to 20-year endeavor.
The Wyandot Woods Boulevard resident said he’s in favor of more housing options but the city is still uncertain what “the right mix is for single and multi-family housing” and how it will affect the Monroe School District.
“We’ll have to do what works for Monroe and constantly review it,” he said.
Kahny, a retired Monroe police officer, said he's running for a seat on council because he's "a citizen who loves his community, has raised his children here and only wants what's best for the community."
The Todhunter Road resident said he’s also concerned about how much more residential growth the Monroe school district and the city can handle and strategically locating warehouses away from residential areas.
Kahny, 55, wants to see more city employee retention programs noting the costs to hire, train, equip and retain city employees can be high.
“Employee retention is the most pressing issue,” he said. “We want them to be happy where they’re working and it’s not always financial.”
Another concern is public safety that includes an understaffed police department and traffic issues.
“I truly love this city and its residents,” he said.
McElfresh has been on council for two years, but this is her first campaign for a council seat.
“I live, work and volunteer in Monroe,” she said. “I care about the city’s future and the direction we’re taking.”
McElfresh, 51, said growth impacts all aspects of the city, its infrastructure and it impacts the school district. She would like to see more higher-end homes in the city.
“The city will continue to grow, but how the city grows will make all the difference in the feel of our community,” she said. “We are a close-knit community and we don’t want to lose that feeling.”
She wants to see the comprehensive master plan get completed and does not think the city needs to give out a lot of tax abatements to attract new and diverse businesses t0 Monroe.
“I believe in this community and feel very strongly about the community I live in,” she said.
Tom Callahan
Age: 65
Employment: Retired; Owned Total Performance Auto Center & Machine Shop in Middletown for more than 30 years and employed 13 people.
Family: Married 42 years; two daughters; one granddaughter
Residency: 35 years as an area resident
Other: Volunteers at the U.S. Air Force Museum; enjoys camping and traveling; involved with the Shriners for 25 years; donated to other charities and sports teams; was involved in car racing for 48 years and won one IHRA championship and helped nine other drivers win championships.
Education: High school graduate; master technician degree and other auto certifications from Sinclair Community College
Dan Clark
Age: 46
Employment: Claims supervisor, Cincinnati Insurance Company
Family: Married; one daughter
Residency: 20 years
Other: Appointed to council seat in 2014; Elected to a full four-year council term in 2015; appointed vice mayor in 2018; Monroe Lions Club member; Monroe Historical Society board member.
Education: Associate's degree, bachelor's degree and law degree from the University of Cincinnati.
Jason Frentzel
Age: 39
Employment: Pioneer Cladding & Glazing in Mason
Family: Single
Residency: 35 years, born and raised in Monroe
Other: Elected to Monroe City Council in 2015; Monroe Rotary Club member; Warren County Municipal League/Monroe representative
Education: Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering technology from the University of Dayton; graduate of Bishop Fenwick High School
Keith Funk
Age: 35
Employment: Product development manager at Fisher Group in Fairfield
Family: Married; four children
Residency: Seven years in Monroe
Other: Elected to Monroe City Council in 2015; Monroe representative to the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments; president of the Monroe Community Improvement Corporation. He is the former business manager for the Mason Parks and Recreation Department
Education: Colerain High School graduate; Cincinnati State College associate's degree in marketing; University of Phoenix bachelor's degree in management; Xavier University master's degree in business administration
Brett Kahny
Age: 55
Employment: Retired after 18 years as a Monroe police officer; training to be a pharmacy technician
Family: Married; two children
Residency: 10 years
Other: U.S. Air Force veteran; served 12 years as the city's school resource officer
Education: Attended Miami University
Christina McElfresh
Age: 51
Employment: Realtor with Sibcy Cline
Family: Widowed, two step-children
Residency: 20-year resident
Other: Appointed to Monroe City Council in 2017; Member of the Monroe Rotary Club, Monroe Lions Club; Daughters of the American Revolution; and Monroe Historical Society; Vice president of AFL-CIO, community services; formerly headed the communications department for United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1099 (now UFCW 75) in Monroe
Education: Attended University of Cincinnati; bachelor's degree in communications from Wright State University
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