This article is part of our Candidate Spotlight series. Candidates were provided with the same questions and invited to submit written responses, which are reproduced word-for-word here. SBLN and the author do not support any particular candidate or viewpoint.
Who are you, and what are your ties to St. Bernard?
““Who are you?” is a tough question to answer succinctly! Professionally, I’m a freelance book editor. In my free time, I serve on the board of a nonprofit that provides humanitarian aid to Central American immigrants; I’m on the leadership team of a nonpartisan voter advocacy coalition; and I’m active politically at the local, county, and state levels. I’m also an introvert, although I realize I may not look like one!
My husband and I have lived in St Bernard for over two decades, but I think it’s important to acknowledge that anyone who has chosen to live in St Bernard has the same stake in the community as everyone else who lives here. I think we can respect and honor those members of the community who have invested heavily in making St Bernard a better place to live, work, and play (thank you!) while recognizing the value and interests of residents who more recently moved to the village.”
What is your favorite place in St. Bernard?
“Have you been inside the St Bernard branch of the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Library? It’s such an important hub for local students! I really admire the librarians, who are friendly and helpful to a fault. And there’s a small MakerSpace as well as a larger meeting room and smaller study rooms. You can even print documents for free! Check it out if you’ve not yet visited!”
Why are you running?
“I’m running for Council because I believe I can make a significant contribution in terms of knowledge, best practices, work ethic, connections outside the village, and commitment to transparency.”
What do you consider to be your most impactful contribution to the community so far?
“In 2020 and 2021, I contributed heavily toward a draft of a Human Rights Ordinance for St Bernard, and I also requested the invaluable assistance of Equality Ohio, the top Ohio advocacy organization that assists municipalities with human rights ordinances.
In many cases, it remains legal to discriminate against members of the LGBTQIA+ community inside village boundaries. People who live in surrounding communities actually lose human rights when they cross into St Bernard! Obviously we all went family, friends, and guests to feel safe and respected in our village.
The ordinance also addressed discrimination on the basis of age, religion, sex, national origin, race, and other factors.
Unfortunately, a few loud voices in the community shouted down the many who supported this ordinance. Nonetheless, the draft ordinance was excellent and a good first step toward this important legislation.”
What are three goals you hope to achieve if elected?
“I’ve divided my platform into three sections:
- It will come as no surprise that I’d like to see St Bernard pass a Human Rights Ordinance. Many people have the misconception that discrimination against the LGBTQ community is outlawed at the federal or state level, so no action is needed at the local level. Federal and state protections are not legislated and can changed at any time. In addition, they leave big loopholes.
- I’d also like to see Council’s working committees commit to meeting regularly: monthly or even more often. Council has seven working committees, and none of them meet regularly. Only one of the committees has met at all in the past several years. Imagine the work we could be doing if the Marketing, Public Improvements, or Business & Industry committees met to partner with residents and business owners as well as outside experts to bring updated policies and programs to the village!
- Finally, I’d like to see St Bernard start to lean in to better environmental policies and practices. At the municipal level and even at the individual level, a lot can be done to improve environmental sustainability and biodiversity and to mitigate the effects of climate change.”
What is the most important issue facing St. Bernard in the coming years, and how do you plan to address it?
“One of the remarks I hear the most often about St Bernard is along the lines of “We need to go back to how we used to be.”
However, when I look at the big picture, I think we can do a better job of building community if we work together to move forward rather than back—and if we look outward rather than inward.
I’d love to see St Bernard unify around programs to not only improve quality of life inside the village but to build strong connections to surrounding communities. Environmental programs would be an excellent example of such an effort, but other examples might include improving our business district, ensuring the community is walkable, and building partnerships with agencies and nonprofits that can show us (and even fund) opportunities to grow.”
Is there anything else people should know about you?
“I am endorsed by the Ohio Environmental Council and the Hamilton County Democratic Party. I am also St Bernard’s district chair within the Democratic party. One fun fact about me is that I once co-hosted a union- and labor-oriented radio show on 88.3 WAIF.
I encourage people to reach out if they have questions about my views! I can be reached via Facebook Messenger or at campaignforklungle@gmail.com. “
The election will be on November 7, 2023. Early voting is underway at the Hamilton County Board of Elections. You can find more information on early voting here and more information about other candidates and races on the ballot here.
Check out Nicole Klungle’s campaign on the web and social media by clicking on the buttons below!
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