I’m Alan Brubaker, your elected Summit County Engineer and I want to explain the importance of voting no on Issue 4. Issue 4 would eliminate the citizens’ right to elect their County Engineer and would transfer the duties of the County Engineer to the County Executive. I firmly believe and it is my professional opinion that the County Engineer’s office must remain an independent, elected office.

The County Engineer has one critical job – to make sure that the roads and bridges our families drive on everyday are safe. When you put your child in her car seat you don’t want to have to worry about whether or not the roads and bridges you drive over are properly maintained. The state of Ohio understood this when our earlier generations laid out the duties and qualifications of the County Engineer. They understood two things: Our infrastructure must be looked after by a professional and the people must have a voice in electing them.

The state of Ohio sets strict qualifications on those who run for County Engineer – and for good reason. In 1835 all counties in Ohio began electing County Surveyors to keep a watchful eye over public land, clarifying land titles and boundaries as the state grew into what we see today. The County Surveyor was also involved in all the growing transportation and canal way projects. Because of the increasing responsibilities that came with the office, the title was changed to County Engineer and the state of Ohio requires all those who vie for the office to be professional engineers and professional surveyors. Ohio had it right the first time by giving the voters the choice of who they want to maintain their roads and bridges and by making sure that the person elected is qualified to look after our infrastructure.

You may hear that the state of Ohio is the only state that elects its County Engineers. That’s not exactly true but the bottom line is very few states give voters the opportunity we have here in Ohio.

The state of Ohio elects its County Engineers to ensure accountability and responsiveness to the voters. You shouldn’t have to worry about the quality of our roads and bridges – that is my job. I am worried about them as a professional but I am also worried about them because I am accountable to you – the citizens of Summit County. Issue 4 would take away that accountability, that direct link of the voters to the County Engineer. It would add an extra layer between citizens and their infrastructure. You should always have a say in who maintains the roads and bridges that your tax dollars pay for.

Also, because County Engineers in Summit County have had to answer to the voters every four years, we are one of the few departments that come in under budget consistently. My office has already cut our budget, reorganized senior staff to save on personnel costs, reduced employees, and is poised to finish 2009 with a stronger budget than any other county department. If it’s not broken, don’t fix it.

Some people are going to say that Ohio is different than any other state – But sometimes you have to be different to be better.

I respectfully ask you to vote 'NO' on Issue 4.

Alan Brubaker
Summit County Engineer