An interview with Greg Harris, candidate for Cincinnati City Council in 2007.  In 2005, the old deanofcincinnati.com blog was the number one source for interviews with council candidates, and we are proud to bring that tradition to The Beacon with this first in what will become an ongoing series.

The Dean: If you had been serving on the current council, would you have been part of the so-called “Fiscal Five,” or the minority faction? Please explain your answer.

Greg Harris: This is really hard to answer because your question assumes that as a member of this Council, I would not have been able to help avert this factionalism.  Given my background in the non-profit sector, including significant coalition building and organizing experience, I like to think I would’ve contributed to this Council a more constructive manner of approach.  I do not know the inner-workings and relationships that led to this strife, but I assume the souring of relations and trust emerged over time and that this wasn’t a case of spontaneous combustion.

If I had been serving on this council, I probably would not have supported the property tax rollback that costs the city some $1.5 million per year, but only saves the average homeowner something like $10 annually.  This might have averted the especially contentious debate over funding social services.  And given the fact that 2/3 of the city budget goes to public safety, as a member of the current Council I would have presumably advocated for a performance audit to determine if we are making optimal use of existing funds before voting to add 60 new police officers that the police chief himself didn’t even request.  (Renowned policing effort John Linder conducted such an audit, but his findings appear to have been buried.) I’m not so sure that the new police focus is more effective then other kinds of strategies such as speeding up the demolition of our current 549 condemned buildings and some 1,215 more buildings soon to be condemned.  The resulting blight entrenches concentrations of poverty, inhibits new development, and provides an infrastructure for criminal activity.  On this significant issue (again, we’re talking two-thirds of the city budget), I probably would not have felt at home with either “faction,” and would have encouraged deeper analysis prior to budget. 

But we must ultimately put this matter in perspective.  The recent budget breakdown was really over a small portion of the city’s overall operating budget.  Beyond the personalities involved and the occasional hostility that surfaced during the recent budget proceedings, we must not overlook the important issues that were brought to the forefront.  Our city pension fund is under-funded.  We have budget gaps to close and the situation will only get worse because the city’s $16 million General Fund reliance in ’07 and ’08 is due to expire in ’09.  This Council and especially the next Council will have a hell of a job on its hands.

The Dean: In your plan for reforming government, you write the following:

“The good news is that with the election of David Pepper to County Commission, we now have three County Commissioners who are reform-minded and who uniquely understand the need for city-county cooperation. Councilman Chris Bortz and Commissioner Pat DeWine’s recent formation of a commission to study consolidation of city-county services is an incredible opportunity to realize deep savings and improve government service delivery. Complementing this effort is Jeff Berding’s “City Hall Works” initiative to comprehensively review government operations and make recommendations on how to improve City services. These kinds of efforts are vital to improving government efficiencies and freeing resources for economic development.”

Some progressives will look at a list of names like Pat DeWine, Chris Bortz, and Jeff Berding—and they will think that this isn’t really a “tri-partisan” list, but really a list of conservatives. How would you respond to the progressive base? Where on the spectrum should we place you for this campaign? Are you a progressive Democrat, or do you hope to appeal to the strain of conservatism that Jeff Berding has brought to the local Democratic Party?

Greg Harris: When I ran for Congress in 2002 and 2004 against Rep. Steve Chabot, I was a strong opponent of the war at a time when the war was very popular.  I was (and still am) a passionate advocate for universal healthcare, fair trade, energy independence, educational opportunity, etc.  It’s safe to conclude that such positions appeal to a more “progressive base,” and my adherence to progressive values is what makes me a Democrat. 

But as a Council candidate, my positions on such issues are less relevant, and labels (“progressive” versus “conservative” ) don’t apply as readily.  I make my living in public policy, and intend to apply my policy orientation to identifying solutions to the most pressing issues facing the city.  (In other words, unlike say, Al Gore in 2000, I will not try to conceal my inner-wonk.) My “best practices” orientation towards politics is not grounded in ideology but, rather, a desire to identify sound and systemic strategies implemented in other cities that achieved positive results. 

One commonality among many thriving metropolitan areas today (Lexington, Columbus, Indianapolis, Minneapolis, etc.) is effective regional coordination and/or governance.  More specific to your question, this is why I applaud Chris Bortz and Pat DeWine’s new commission examining consolidation of city-county services.  I’m actually a long-time proponent of regionalism.  As Executive Director of Citizens for Civic Renewal from 1999-2003, for example, I helped to organize and lead a diverse coalition-driven public information campaign called “Cincinnati Metropatterns” (based on a report we commissioned by Myron Orfield) that advocated for regionalism, smart growth, and strategies to combat concentrated poverty.  Project co-sponsors ranged from the Sierra Club to the Chamber, AMOS project to Forward Quest.  Here’s a link to an Enquirer op-ed I wrote in 2003 on why regional collaboration is a practical necessity for Greater Cincinnati:

http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2003/07/20/editorial_HARRIS.html

But one of the hard lessons I learned from my time at CCR was that the macro-reforms we sought were a really hard sell in a region with 222 local political jurisdictions that pride themselves on local control.  Bortz and DeWine’s initiative seems to acknowledge this reality, and appears to be attempting to foster regional collaboration through a “cost-benefit” approach--that is, through examining cost savings achieved by consolidating targeted government services (such as emergency).  Hamilton County in and of itself is the size of a medium sized city, yet is contains 49 different political jurisdictions.  There’s so much duplication of government services among these jurisdictions, and strategies to consolidate select services would free significant resources for investment in the types of initiatives I advocate for in my Prosperity Agenda (http://www.votegregharris.com/prosperityagenda.html ). 

Also, I happen to be employed by a foundation (KnowledgeWorks) that is very strong on data, accountability, and benchmarking.  This is why I’m partial to initiatives like Berding’s “Cincinnati Works,” which I believe will help achieve more accountable and efficient city government.  I cite Councilman Bortz, Commissioner DeWine and Councilman Berding’s initiatives under the “Streamlining Government” section of my website because they provide recent examples of governance reform efforts.  I’m not a challenger who is simply going to run against the current Council; to the contrary, I want to identify areas where there’s positive momentum and, if elected, build on this traction. 

If elected, I will work with my Council colleagues regardless of their political orientation on matters that I think are important.  (As a public servant, I think citizens should expect me to work with the Council the voters hired.) I’m committed to governance reform, even though this is a hard issue to sound-bite and campaign on.  I feel the next Council will really need to achieve consensus on this front if we are to succeed at freeing critical dollars for investment.  Once we free new resources through government efficiency, we can have the luxury of debating how to invest these dollars.

The Dean: In your plan for prosperity, you write the following:

“A prosperity agenda must include creating new industries, and I believe the Freedom Center can catapult Cincinnati into a major role as a heritage tourism hub for immersion into the history of abolitionism and the Underground Railroad. This strategy must include working with regional Chambers to make this heritage accessible to tourists by linking and marketing the remnants of slavery’s epicenter, and leveraging our region’s artistic assets in creating a national draw to the region, such as a national summer theater festival located on the symbolic riverfront that’s devoted to the ongoing struggle for human rights.”

Can you clarify how the Freedom Center will become a tourism hub, since it hasn’t already? What do you mean by writing that we should “market the remnants of slavery’s epicenter”?

Greg Harris: I think the Freedom Center has not helped Cincinnati emerge as a heritage tourism hub because it was launched a little too much in isolation of regional history.  The museum’s location is historically significant because it marks the middle passage where slaves escaped from slave state to free-state.  The Center must not become a heavily subsidized feel-good project but, rather, serve as an entry point into our region’s rich, important role in the Underground Railroad and the abolitionist movement. 

Upon reading your citation of my quote, “market the remnants of slavery’s epicenter,” I think my phrasing may cheapen the issue, which wasn’t my intent.  Let me better explain my vision.  Heritage tourism is a major industry.  Tourists flock to civil war battlefields, historic towns, sites, etc.  I would like to see the Freedom Center emerge as a springboard for further immersion.  I would like to see a well defined network of regional history mapped and inter-connected to facilitate this immersion:  abolitionist churches; the Harriet Beecher Stowe house; Ripley, Ohio; Lincoln Heights—a community developed and organized by African-Americans; the slave auction at Camp Joy; the actual plantation in Northern Kentucky on which Toni Morison’s Beloved was based; the list goes on.  Per the latter example, our region premiered the opera, Margaret Garner.  But this could be re-staged every summer on our riverfront.  It could be the springboard for a nationally prominent African American theatre festival.

Creating a heritage tourism industry is an issue I would be eager to pursue as a member of Council because I think the artistic, cultural, historic, and economic dividends would be great.  Of over-arching importance to me, however, is my strong belief that the study of the past can help reshape the present.  Let me briefly elaborate.  I took a literature survey in college where Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn was taught as a lesson in ideology.  Huck was “wrong” for assisting the escaped slave Jim.  Huck was actually breaking the law (the fugitive slave act).  In the historic context, slavery was “right.” Today the assumptions of wrong and right when it comes to slavery are reversed.  But what ideological blinders are we wearing today?  I truly believe in the power of historic perspective to reshape modern perspective, and I think the Cincinnati region can play a more major role towards this end.

The Dean: You discuss the need to introduce “Green Cincinnati” initiatives. Where do you stand on recycling? Some critics maintain that the poor gas mileage of the vehicles used to collect recyclable material provide more damage to the environment in spent fuel and greenhouse gas emissions. Should we continue to pollute the environment through our current system of recycling?

Greg Harris: I strongly support recycling programs.  We obviously need environmentally cleaner transport vehicles, but I cannot believe the negative effects of these vehicles outweigh the benefits of curbing land fills and cutting down on waste through reuse. 

The Dean: : In your plan for education, you write the following:

“Educational opportunity is the primary indicator of economic success. I look forward to working in my capacity as a Councilman to broker innovative partnerships between education providers such as Great Oaks, the largest and one of the more successful career and technical centers in the country, and community and economic justice organizations that can serve as conduits to at-risk students and the working poor. Investment in vocational training and adult learning programs can equip Cincinnatians with the skills needed to remain gainfully employed in the modern economy. I also pledge to work with local building trade unions as they seek to expand minority participation in their apprenticeship programs, and to expand targeted scholarship funds that provide incentives for young adults to pursue careers in areas where our region faces major skills gaps.”

Right after mentioning Great Oaks, you mention a union. Are you aware that the teachers at Great Oaks are non-union? What do you think about that? As a member of City Council, why do you wish to work so exclusively with a County school? What about Cincinnati Public Schools? What role should you have with them? What about area Charter Schools? What is your position?

Greg Harris: Great Oaks is one of the more effective vocational schools in the country, and I would not refuse to work in partnership with them simply because they’re non-union.  (That standard would become quite a slippery slope.) One of my areas of focus for my employer, KnowledgeWorks Foundation, is workforce education and investment.  There are glaring skills gaps throughout Ohio that need to be closed.  In sectors like manufacturing, for example, there are many high-skilled positions that need to be filled.  I would strive to connect unemployed or underemployed Cincinnatians to educational opportunities, including tapping significant TANF reserves that can be applied towards funding vocational and certification opportunities for recipients of public assistance.

Also, please do not overlook the portion of my website where I address Cincinnati Public Schools under the “educational opportunity” subcategory in the “Social and Economic Justice” section:  http://www.votegregharris.com/socialecojustice.html

I’m a strong believer in a new regional initiative called “Strive” (http://www.strivetogether.org).  As a regional P-16 coordinating strategy (P = pre-school; 16 = 16th grade/4-year post-secondary degree), Strive is bringing together public, private and civic sector agencies, universities and institutions throughout the region to determine where we are losing kids and young adults in the education pipeline, and developing strategies to prevent these “casualties.” In some areas, for example, Strive may see a need for more parental intervention via programs like the United Way’s “Success by 6” (which is one of the partners); in other areas they may need to see a need to bolster internship opportunities.  Strive is also seeking to build an endowment fund so that affordability is no longer a barrier to attend an area college.  (Disclaimer:  My employer, KnowledgeWorks Foundation, is an active partner in this initiative.) As a former teacher whose parents are both retired teachers, I have an unabashed bias towards education.  But I happen to think that educational opportunity is our region’s best anti-crime and economic development strategy.

As for your question on Charter schools, I’m not opposed in theory, and there are a few strong performing Charter schools.  But the criteria for Charter schools really needs to be strengthened and their overall performance actually lag public schools.

The Dean: What do you think about salaries for City Council members? Are they appropriate, or should they be cut (as suggested by Leslie Ghiz)? Why or why not?

Greg Harris: I’m torn.  If I were one of nine managers working under a COO and a CEO for a billion dollar company, I do not think $60,000 would seem like such an exorbitant salary.  The issue to me is not salaries as they are now, but actually turning Council in practice to what it is in theory:  a part-time job.  I am interested in district and proportional representation models, and would of course want to see salaries pared down as Council’s scope is pared down.  I’m not sure we will fully realize the “strong mayor” system and empower a city manager under our current set up.  I would really like to see our system re-configured so that citizens from different professional backgrounds could more readily maintain their livelihoods while serving on Council part-time.  (For example, I intend to continue to make my living in the philanthropic sector working for foundations.) I would expect that, if elected, I will emerge as an advocate for reform in this area.

The Dean: In your plan for crime, you write, “We must examine at the city and country level ways to provide ex-convicts (or inmates) a second chance to get good jobs and become productive citizens.” What is your stand on the “chronic nuisance premises ordinance”? What do you think about the police recently meeting with landlords, encouraging them not to rent to anyone with a drug conviction on their records? While your ideas to boost homeownership are fine, not everyone can afford to own a home. Where are ex-convicts supposed to live, if landlords are threatened with high fines and possible jail time for renting to those deemed a high-risk for “nuisances”?

Greg Harris: I tend to be sympathetic towards measures to prevent making our lower-income housing communities dumping grounds for those who have track records of dealing drugs and other criminal activity.  But I also agree ex-convicts have to live somewhere, and given the opportunity for second chances.  I think housing should be strategically assigned and more closely monitored for those with track records of criminal activity and a propensity towards the criminal lifestyle.  At some point you need to take a stand for the common good and empower communities, especially poorer communities, to live in more safety and less fear.  (I imagine the ACLU will now revoke my membership.)

The Dean: In 2005, the public said they were tired of a council that engaged grandstanding. Mayor Mallory seems to have responded by taking arguments out of the public eye, and now the public is complaining again. While the public cannot be satisfied all the time, where do you stand on these two options: is it better to have messy and confrontational disagreements in the public eye, or behind closed doors? Why?

Greg Harris: I tend to error on the side of openness.  Democracy can be messy.  So be it.

The Dean: Do you have any final comments?

Greg Harris: Thanks for the opportunity to interview and for allowing me to not have to answer questions in 50 words or less.

Click here to see our 2007 City Council candidates archive.

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