We at Freedom of Speech, have an excellent candidate we'd like to introduce you the voters to, her name is Valla Ann Bolovschak and she is running for Council At large.
One of the many things we really like about Valla Ann, is her can do attitude and her pragmatic approach to the needs of our city.
For those of you who do not know her, Valla Ann Bolovschak is the owner of the Admiral Bicknell Inn Bed and Breakfast located at 600 E. Main Street.
She is a very successful business women, citizens advocate, and she posses and exhibits strong leadership qualities. You be the judge...
About: Valla Ann
Education: Graduated Centre College with a BA in business and English having paid for every dime of her college education through hard work, student aid, scholarships and grants. She also attended two semesters at U of L and the London School of Economics in England having won scholarships to those universities.
Currently Valla Ann serves on the board of the Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana. She is the Treasurer here in New Albany of the Main Street Preservation Association.
Valla Ann was appointed by Governor Daniels to the Ohio River Greenway Commission a 42 million dollar project, and serves on the ORG Steering committee as well.
She also serves on the Greenway Foundation Board in Indianapolis and is a very active member of the Regional Leadership Coalition, spearheading the project of obtaining access to one or both of the roadways on the K&I Bridge as part of the Kentuckiana River Trail.
You can ask the members of any of these organizations about her commitment, and. they'll tell you, 'She has her thumb on the money and she never quits.'
Taking Action - Getting Results!
Valla Ann helped resurrect the Main Street Preservation Association, which was in defunct, and which is now very active. After reading through 8 years of MSPA minutes it was clear the community really wanted to create a quiet zone so the trains would stop blowing their horn.
Taking Action - Getting Results!
Valla Ann managed to get Norfolk Southern and INDOT to give New Albany close to half a million dollars to upgrade our Historic Corridor. Her project is in motion and the equipment is currently being installed.
In fact, it is the first time in the history of Norfolk Southern that a city was able to gain a corridor upgrade without any financial output from the city.
Taking Action - Getting Results!
Valla Ann's involvement with the Ohio River Greenway Commission put her in a place where she had a very vital role in preserving the $2.3 million dollar riverfront upgrade being constructed here in New Albany.
Taking Action - Getting Results!
For over two years, Valla Ann has been paying a professional videographer to videotape the city council meetings and was successful in getting ten of these proceedings aired on WNAS television.
Valla Ann believes the city council meetings should be televised, allowing citizens with scheduling conflicts, handicap issues or other constraints to have every opportunity to be informed regarding the issues of our community and the direction the council is taking to address these issues.
Valla Ann has attended over 90% of the city council meetings as a citizens advocate, and has worked closely with all the city council members over the last two years. She also allows our current council members to use the videotapes as a reference when they need it, generally the minutes of those meetings are incomplete or occasionally flawed.
There's more, but we think this should serve you the voters, as proof of her seriousness as a candidate for Council At Large.
A letter from Valla Ann...
Dear Voters,
Transparency in governance is the key to its success.
Tax payer dollars should remain in New Albany rather than outsourcing our utility operations to private companies. If there is money to be made in managing our utilities, the city should be the managing body.
Millions have been spent on our sewers. Due to mismanagement and wasteful spending we have little to show for it. The city council should be working hand in hand with this department to develop a structure for fulfillment and improve our service and reduce our rates.
We need a system of checks and balances to be implemented to protect our tax payers dollars, insuring accountability and integrity. For example, the city council should be approving all expenditures over $500 but are not currently doing so.
We need a fundamental review of the cost effectiveness. Our local government should step forward and combine, consolidate and improve departments in order to save money and increase efficiency.
The issue of unsafe housing must be addressed. Until or administration begins to enforce the codes and ordinances available to the governing body, we will continue to suffer conditions that reduce opportunities for economic development.
The audits completed during our current administration report millions of dollars annually in overspending and misappropriation.
Our goal as a governing body should be to look out for the citizens of New Albany and to look at the facts, not the politics.
I am a person who makes things happen and I pledge to face the problems that our city faces and solve them.
I have every confidence that when I don't know an answer, I have access to the greatest resources available to find them.
With my knowledge of federal and state grants, which our city desperately needs to function in the black, my strong and aggressive approach and commitment to what is right!
I will speak out for the good of the citizens of New Albany and represent each and everyone of you.
On a personal note, Thank you to those of you who called to encourage me to run for this council seat, and those of you who have supported me in all my endeavors.
I want to work for you if you allow me that great honor.
Taking Action - Getting Results!
Sincerely,
Valla Ann Bolovschak
Republican Candidate
City Council at Large
"If your actions inspire others to dream more,
learn more, do more and become more,
you are a leader."
-John Quincy
