FAIRFIELD — The seven candidates vying for three City Council at-large seats offer differing ideas and priorities for their city.

        “This is a maturing community,” said Howard Dirksen, 58, a five-term councilman who sat out the past two years to comply with term limits. “At this point, there are not thousands of undeveloped acres left, so there needs to be increased focus placed on quality of life issues.”

        Mr. Dirksen stresses the need more cultural, recreational and educational opportunities.

        Mark Scharringhausen, 43, the only incumbent council member seeking reelection, said: “Fairfield in many ways has been a young community that is now turning the corner.

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        “We are going to need parks and recreation programs that not only provide for a young community but for seniors, too.”

        Jill Kinder, 48, a political neophyte, touts maintaining or improving property values as “paramount.” Improving the Ohio 4 thoroughfare “must be carefully planned considering traffic management and streetscape” and we will “attain long term benefits by building bridges, not fences with neighboring communities ... on projects of mutual interest.”

        Don Hassler, 67, a council veteran of 16 years who also took a two-year hiatus to comply with term limits, calls himself “a roads man.”

        As the Symmes Road extension connects the industrial heart of Fairfield to West Chester Township, “it will open up land for development and we can get some viable businesses in there and attract jobs,” Mr. Hassler said.

        Economic development is the primary vision of Charles Klosterman, 37, who has served on the city's Community Reinvestment Council (CRC) for six years. “I'd like to see us go out and increase our revenue base.”

        He sees the city using CRC to increase jobs by leveraging businesses to move into the community through tax abatements and other incentives.

        Mayor Robert Wolpert, who is stepping down to run for council, said the city needs leadership able to work together to “balance energies and priorities.”

        Mr. Wolpert said downtown improvements surrounding Nilles Road and Pleasant Avenue need to continue beyond the new Village Green initiative, the Ohio 4 corridor begs for improvement and flood control issues still haunt the city.

        Retired Police Officer John “Les” Crothers, brings more than 25 years of work experience within the city.

        “I want people to want to live here. We need full-time firefighters ... six to eight more police officers, and good, solid roads,” Mr. Crothers said.

        “Something I hear every day is the need for a more friendly, honest administration and city government. There is a perception out there that we do not have that.”

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