Ted Kalo

Candidate for Lorain County Commissioner Democrat tedkalo@gmail.com 440-246-6473
Employment:
I am currently serving my first term as a Lorain County Commissioner and am also the President of Ted's Floorcoverings, Inc. in downtown Lorain.
Education:
Graduate Lorain Admiral King High School 1979 Attended Cleveland State University Attended Lorain County Community College Business Trade seminars
Community Involvement:
I have been active in many organizations throughout the the city, county, and state: Lorain Palace Civic Center (Past President) Brad Friedel's Premiere Soccer Academy (Founders Committee) Lorain Admiral King Booster Club Lorain Growth Corporation Lorain Main Street North Coast BIA Lorain County Chamber of Commerce Lorain Schools Construction Bond Levy Committee Knights of Columbus Lorain Knights of St. John #281 Black River Masonic Lodge #786 Chamber Sustainable Development Committee NOACA Board Member County Commissioners Assoc. of Ohio-Government Affairs Committee Vice-Chair American Cancer Society Relay for Life Chairman for the City of Lorain Lorain Youth Baseball Sponsor
Family:
I am married to Wendy (Strickler) and have 5 children - Bryan (serving with the U.S. Navy), Nicole (attending the University Partnership at LCCC), Brittany (attending LCCC), Ted IV (senior at Marion L. Steele), and Leigha(sophomore at Brecksville-Broadview Hts.).
Why would you like to be elected?
I am running for a second term because I believe that Lorain County has made great strides when it comes to economic development. My campaign four years ago was based on bringing business sense to government and building concensus among our communities and I feel we have gotten a great start with the creation of the Lorain County Growth Partnership. We have for the first time ever been able to create a true public-private-education partnership to foster job growth in all of our communities. The LCGP has created over 2400 new jobs in Lorain County in only two years of existence. We have also worked diligently on the safety issues we are dealing with now. We have funded the County Strike Team which took 430 criminals off the streets but also added to our jail overcrowding problems. We also have issues with the state mandates that are sent to the county without dollars to support them so our elected officials have to redirect employees from their main duties and backs up our justice system. We are working at finding newer and more creative ways of relieving these problems and I would like to see them resolved. I have been working with Environment Ohio and our State Legislators to finish the State Energy Bill, S.B.221, so it spurs our ability to attract alternative energy manufacturers, primarily wind turbine producers, to locate in Lorain County because of our highly skilled and ready workforce.
What would you like to accomplish if elected?
I feel during my first term in office we have started the turnaround of Lorain County and I would like to continue the progress we have made. We have only scratched the surface when it comes to really selling ourselves to the rest of the region but we have definitely made an inpression with our ability to cooperate and collaborate with each other. Lorain County will continue to improve and remake ourselves with the partnerships we have created and I wish to continue in that leadership role.
How do you think Internet technology will impact government services?
The internet already has a great impact on government, especially when it comes to constituency information. Everyyone is able to view property descriptions, court dockets, criminal cases, agendas for meetings, dogs available for adoption, and upcoming issues. The Board of Commissioners website will be going through an update so we can broadcast our meetings over the internet to continue to make more information available to the public.
What one bit of information do people not normally know about you?
Let's make it two bits of info. I am an avid pet owner. We have three dogs and two cats and I also enjoy cooking with my friends.