Candidates were asked to answer four questions about fathers, families and health and human services funding prior to both the primary and general elections.

Dale Miller, Democrat

1.     In the state legislature, I served with Peter Lawson Jones and actively supported his efforts to create Fatherhood programs in Ohio. I also attended at least two of the annual Fatherhood Conferences in Cleveland, including this year's.

2.     We need to take a prevention-oriented approach to human services in Ohio. We need to focus on the health and learning potential of our youngest children, prevent child abuse and family violence, prevent children from dropping out of school, using alcohol and drugs, and getting involved with gangs. The more we can prevent these things on the front end, the less crime, unemployment, and incarceration we will have later. I strongly believe that active participation of fathers in the family is essential to getting children on the right track.

3.     We need to focus on our strenths (proximity to Lake Erie, health care, wind and solar energy, strong manufacturing base) to create more high quality jobs in Cuyahoga County. We need to make sure that as many of the people for the casino and medical mart are hired locally. We need better align our workforce development programs with jobs that really exist.

4.     Health and Human Services funding should be based on need. The last thing we need is a parochial battle for funds among the 11 Council districts.

These answers could be 10 times as long for the first three questions, but time is short. It at least gives you a sense of my direction.  Note that keeping fatherhood programs in place is one of the points I regularly make on the campaign trail.