Mary Springowski, candidate for Lorain Council at-large

Name: Mary Springowski

Political party: Democrat

Office sought: Council At Large

Age: 49

Place of birth: Cleveland, Ohio

Address: 2122 E. Skyline Drive

Length of residence in that community: In Lorain, from 1966-1973 and then back from 1988 until present. In the 8th ward since 1996.

Twitter: www.twitter.com/maryspring

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marydonovanspringowski (personal)

Website: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Elect-Mary-Springowski-Lorain-City-Council-at-Large/409714025858552

Occupation: Engine Assembly Technician, Back Up Group Leader, Wife and mother

Employer:  Ford Motor Company and the Springowski/Donovan families.

Elected office experience: As a union member I was elected as an alternate committeeperson and UAW Constitutional Convention Delegate

Non-elected office experience:

• Chairperson of Lorain/Medina County Community Based Correction Facility
• UAW CAP Delegate
• UAW Local 1250 CAP delegate
• UAW Local 1250 Civil Rights Committee secretary
• Member of Nativity BVM
• 24 year UAW Member
• Member Knights of Columbus (aux)
• Member Mexican Mutual Society
• 1984 Lorain International Irish Princess

Education:

• Firelands High School Class of '84
• Studies at Ohio State University and Lorain County Community College

Marital status: Married, husband Thomas

Children: 4 children, Kathleen (Brendan), Mary-Christina, Meaghan and Paul

Organizations:   

• Nativity BVM
• Mexican Mutual 
• Knights of Columbus
• UAW Local 1250
• Former UAW Local 2000 member 
• UAW CAP

Should you be elected, what are three specific areas you’d like to change, address, improve or further research, and how specifically would you go about it?:
Greater transparency of government. Currently the vast majority of our ordinances are declared "emergencies" so as to rush them through council and prevent the public from speaking from them. It is important that we change the rules of council so that the citizens (taxpayers) are able to speak at the meetings. They have some good ideas and need to be heard. It is their money that is being spent, after all.
Greater attention to ALL of the streets in Lorain! How the streets are attended to in Lorain makes no sense! And then after they're repaved, they aren't maintained. Many streets that were recently done are already showing signs of decay for want of simple attention such as sealing segment lines with tar, etc. And then only sections are done so that you drive on a decent section for a period of time and then are forced to drive on a section that would give an Army tank trouble!
Meaningful revitalization and rejuvenation of downtown, not just the creation of an entertainment district. We have to actively court developers and cut the red tape. There are people who would like to do business in Lorain but there seems to be a "price" of doing business here. Furthermore, council, as it currently stands, seems to look for reasons why things CAN'T be done instead of looking for reasons why things CAN be done. We need to change that way of thinking. Jobs are a critical component of that revitalization. We have to make our city attractive to new businesses and development. The paradigm has shifted. Rather than a one shot or homerun industry coming here such as the shipyard, Ford or the steel mill did, we have to realize that things have changed. Our biggest employer is now Mercy Hospital followed by the Lorain City Schools. Therefore we need to capitalize on business and industry that will compliment that and provide meaningful employment for our citizens.

Whether for past accomplishments or future goals, why should voters elect you?
For the past 20 or so years, we have kept electing the same people, the same names.....and they keep doing the same things over and over. The time has come for a change. It's time for a new voice, a new name and a new face for a new Lorain! When you look at the demographics of the city, you realize even though women are in the majority in this city, we're not represented on council. I will bring fresh perspective and innovative thinking to council. I'm also not a political insider. I'm running to represent the people, not the party. I'll also be saving tax payers money as I would decline any type of medical coverage provided by the city.