The Cozzone Plan:
- Develop a long-term Strategic Plan for Chester County that addresses all the priorities the County should address in the next five years and assesses all financial issues facing the County. We can make County Government work better for us, as well as do more for open space and urban revitalization, while keeping taxes under control; but only if we plan for the future.
- Enact policies against pay-to-play politics in County Government. No individual or group that does business with or for the County should be a contributor to any county candidates, elected officials or political parties.
- Be an advocate for the citizens of Chester County. The County commissioners should help citizens and local communities protect and improve their quality of life. In many cases, the Commissioners cannot solve problems by themselves. However, they should lead the effort to lobby Harrisburg and Washington to pass laws the empower our local officials, encourage State and Federal bureaucracies to tackle local issues and fund projects that enhance our communities.
Fiscal Responsibility
Kathi will draw on her years of Financial Management experience to bring greater fiscal responsibility to Chester County. Using her expertise in financial management, Kathi will work to make government more efficient. Through long-term planning, Kathi can help identify financial issues down the road. Year after year, the public is expected to swallow tax increases that are often reactionary. Kathi can help make constant tax increases a thing of the past.
Pay-to-Play
Too often, County Government does not perform at a high level due to a pay-to-play culture that exists among the Republican Commissioners and contributors to the Republican Party. One example is the Pension Plan, which faces a significant shortfall that must be made up by tax dollars. The County continually hires the same fund managers, despite their poor performance. These fund managers are all contributors to the GOP. Andy Dinniman proposed new rules to eliminate pay-to-play, but he was voted down by the Republicans. The only way to make reform happen is to elect Democrats!
Open Space
As a resident of Uwchlan Twp., Kathi has seen what can happen when developers are given free reign. As Commissioner, Kathi will make sure that her commitment to fiscal responsibility results in a greater County contribution to open space. Kathi also plans to be a stronger advocate for the citizens in land use matters. The County Commissioners can provide support to citizens, when their local supervisors fail to stand up to developers. When supervisors are overwhelmed, the County should consider doing impact studies through the County Planning Commission or providing legal assistance. She also promises to advocate on behalf of local supervisors to change state laws to make it easier to control development.
Planning
The County Planning Commission must take a greater role in opposing development that does not fit into the County’s Comprehensive Plan – Landscapes. Kathi will use the influence of the Commissioner’s office to foster more regional planning among communities based on Landscapes. Municipalities that share urban or suburban centers should plan those centers together. Townships outside these centers should work together to contain suburban landscapes and push development to villages. Additionally, aspects of Landscapes still need attention. Some funds must address transportation needs, infrastructure improvements and the environment.
Urban Re-Development
Kathi believes that re-development of our cities, boroughs and villages is a key component to preserving our way of life in Chester County. Any efforts to save open space must contain a component to invest in our town centers as well.
Protecting our Vote
Kathi will use her position on the Chester County Board of Elections to push for a voter-verified paper trail of every vote. Rep. Smith’s race in 2006 showed us the importance of having a reliable record of the vote. Kathi also promises not to play politics when ruling on the validity of provisional ballots. Last year, the Republican commissioners disenfranchised legitimate voters in Democratic precincts in an attempt to help their candidate. The responsibility to govern our elections should be about making sure every voter is heard, not partisan advantage.
Social Services
The social services that the county provides are an important component to our community. Those services can be improved, but only if we plan ahead to pay for those improvements. Kathi will bring county leaders and citizens together to decide what improvements need to be made, and determine how to get there in a fiscally responsible way.
The Environment
Kathi will press for the enactment of a “Green Initiative” for the County. The best experts we can find should find ways to make County facilities and operation more friendly to the environment: everything to hybrid cars for County business to energy efficient light bulbs in all County buildings. Kathi will also charge the County Planning Commission to assist municipalities in developing zoning laws that take environmental impact into account to protect our water, air and wildlife habitats from bad development. Finally, Kathi will be an advocate for communities seeking money from the EPA to clean up superfund sites.
Local Issues
The County Commissioners must make an effort to connect with every community in Chester County. Whether it’s a bridge that needs repair, a forest trail that needs protection, an old industrial site that’s become an eyesore or township facilities that need improvement, every community faces challenges. The County Commissioners must get out to local government meetings and stay in touch with our communities, to determine ways that they can be helpful. Whether through County planning, grants or advocacy, the Commissioners can play a role in making positive change all around the county.
Top