Virgil Lovitt Roast

Dear fellow tax hikers, we know these past 3 weeks have been as difficult for you as they have been for us.  That's because on December 31, 2012 our hero and mentor Virgil Lovitt retired as Sharonville Mayor and life hasn't been the same since. 

At least we got to enjoy a good laugh recently.  Virg was honored, as he deserved to be, with a roast from the Sharonville Chamber of Commerce.  It was led by someone from the Princeton Education Foundation, which was fitting because of the numerous Princeton tax increases Virgil endorsed. 

This 5 minute video was so, so funny.  We swear it was hilarious.  It may have been so funny you forgot to laugh, but we insist you will laugh hard at this master roast. 

Janey Kattelman for Sharonville Mayor

Dear fellow tax hikers, we have made our decision regarding the replacement of our good friend Virgil Lovitt as Sharonville Mayor.  Though there are many fine choices, we enthusiastically endorse former Councilwoman Janey Kattelman for Sharonville Mayor.  Janie's unwavering dedication to big government places her a cut above the rest.

Janey has been a long-time supporter and one of the closest friends of our 2008 Tax Hiker of the Year Virgil Lovitt.  Janey has been with Virg every tax-hiking step of the way.

Janey is so dedicated to big government that she left the Republican Party in 2011 to run as an independent, never mind that Sharonville Republicans are some of the best tax-and-spenders in Ohio.  Even Virg didn't do that.  He served proudly as a top tax-and-spend Republican. Sadly, Janey lost this race to her more conservative opponent, and she and her husband have been bitter ever since. 

A major reason for this move was Janey's obsessive support for the taxpayer-subsidized Sharonville Fine Arts Center, known to many as Janey's Playhouse.  This so-called economic development tool has been so successful that it's required 3 different taxpayer bailouts.  Janey knows this place cannot fail.  If it requires higher taxes from Sharonville's residents and workers, then that is the price that must be paid for Janey's Playhouse to live on. 

Sharonville Republicans meet on January 7th to make their decision.  This process is being handled by none other than Paul Kattelman, Janey's husband.  We encourage Paul to rig the system in favor of his wife.  Forget the taxpayers, do what's best for yourselves.  And finally, get your revenge on those who voted Janey out of office.  Janey Kattelman for Sharonville Mayor!

Virgil Lovitt Tribute

Dear fellow tax hikers, by this time next week our dear close friends Simon Leis, Jean Schmidt and Virgil Lovitt will be out of office.  While many others will celebrate the New Year when the ball drops tomorrow night, we tax hikers will be huddled around together crying our eyes out at the loss of these great public servants. 

The first to leave office is our beloved 2008 Tax Hiker of the Year Virgil Lovitt, who leaves office tomorrow.  Virg is perhaps the finest local elected official we have and his departure is a huge loss for all of us.

This man has joyously raised Property Taxes, Earnings Taxes, Sales Taxes, Hotel/Motel Taxes, and has done so much more.  He endorsed Todd Portune's re-election while opposing our enemy Pat DeWine, endorsed Bob Taft's 3rd Frontier program so Ohio can fund its own Solyndras, and was one of Jean Schmidt's closest Hamilton County friends.

His contributions to the tax-and-spend movement have been immeasurable.  In honor of Virg, we dedicate this post to all the taxes he has raised and all the good things he has done for us.  This post will not be a funeral, but instead a tribute to a man who has earned it.

To honor Virg, we ask all you tax hikers to tell us your favorite Virgil Lovitt memories.

Virgil Lovitt to resign as Sharonville Mayor

Dear fellow tax hikers, we are devastated that our hero and role model Virgil Lovitt will be resigning as Sharonville Mayor on December 31st.  We learned this awful news last night, and we are still crying our eyes out.  Do you realize that one month from now our close friends Simon Leis, Jean Schmidt, AND Virgil Lovitt will all be out of office?  This is a catastrophe for our tax-and-spend movement. 

Four years ago we proudly named Virgil Lovitt our 2008 Tax Hiker of the Year.  And while we have been enormously proud of each and every one of our Tax Hiker of the Year winners, we can honestly say that Virg is our favorite. 

Has anyone done more than our Virg to bring higher taxes his community?  The 2007 Hamilton County Sales Tax hike, numerous Property Tax hikes, a huge 50% Income Tax hike, Hotel/Motel Tax hike, Bob Taft's 3rd Frontier - Virg has supported them all.  Not just content to support higher taxes, Virg understands the need to support great tax hikers for office.  That's why he's been a strong backer of great candidates like Jean Schmidt, Michelle Schneider, Tax Hikin' Rick Bryan, and even Democrat Todd Portune.

Virg is not only our hero and role model, but he is one of the reasons this site became a huge success.  Many of you remember that Virg's 2008 Tax Hiker of the Year award was prominently featured in the ad wars for his State Representative race that year.  This level attention introduced thousands of people to our website and resulted in us adding many of the loyal readers still with us today.  Virg has been the gift that keeps on giving to our movement and our site.  We will miss him greatly.  We love you Virgil Lovitt!

With that, we sadly leave you with his resignation letter:

Dear Friends,

I am writing today to share that I am retiring as Sharonville Mayor effective the end of this year. I find it hard to believe that it’s been 16 years since I accepted this role. I hope that I have built upon the great reputation that Sharonville already had earned from Paul Kattelman and John Dowlin’s administrations.

I know, without a doubt, that Sharonville is much more than a city government. It is a community that thrives on the countless efforts of our volunteers and residents. It is a community that really cares about our neighbors, our businesses and our amenities. This is the core of what makes Sharonville special and allows our city to stand out.

Frequently I have been asked how I manage to do” everything” on my plate and I always reply with, “there are so many good people holding me up everywhere.” This is absolutely the truth. Our administrative team and employees are terrific. They take great pride in doing their utmost best to serve our residents and businesses. And, our civic and business groups give thousands of hours and lots of donations every year to make Sharonville a great place to live and work. These are all of the ingredients that make a community strong.

So, why am I retiring? Actually, it’s because our city is in a really good place right now. The city revenues are strong, our expenses are under control, and our reserves are solid. Many of our complicated projects are now complete and our departments are well managed and operating well. This is a good time for the city to have a transition.

For me personally, it is, also, a good time for a transition. I have enjoyed the honor of being Mayor for the last 16 years and a part of Council for 9 years before that. I am looking forward to more time and flexibility with my family. Also, my State Farm Agency has become so busy that I need to devote more time working with my clients. It has become difficult to do everything well, and this will allow me to focus on my family and family business.

I am not leaving this great community and I will stay involved in many ways. I appreciate this opportunity to serve and I thank this City and the Community of Sharonville for all of the support they have given to me.

Virgil Lovitt
2008 Tax Hiker of the Year

Princeton's unsafe schools

Dear fellow tax hikers, we report that several schools in the mega-spending Princeton School District are in violation of Ohio's safety laws.  Ohio requires each school to file their safety plans and floor plans so that emergency personnel can more quickly respond in the event of a school shooting or other disaster.  There are 15 schools in SW Ohio that have refused to obey this law, with a whopping 6 of them in Princeton. 

Your child is in an elevated state of danger if he or she attends Princeton High School, Princeton Virtual Academy High School, Princeton Middle School, Glendale Elementary, Lincoln Heights Elementary, or Woodlawn Elementary.  We don't understand why Princeton Virtual Academy is on this list - shouldn't they be able to virtually submit these plans?

As our good friend Mrs. Hillary Rodham Clinton says, "never waste a good crisis".  This is part of the Princeton School Board's plan to start pitching the next tax increase.

Even though the School District already spends more money per student than 98% of school districts in Ohio AND just passed another tax increase, they are not able to fulfill these safety requirements because they don't have enough money!  They need more.  If you oppose the next Princeton property tax increase, it's because you are against student safety. 

We encourage our tax-hiking friends Virgil Lovitt, Royal Doyle Webster, and many more to not waste this good crisis.  Student safety isn't important.  What's important is exploiting the lack of student safety to pass another big property tax increase.  Let's do this!  Tax us more. 

Summer Reading List

Dear fellow tax hikers, many embark on an ambitious reading plan for those summertime months.  Being extremely intelligent and well-read, we do this too.  It's time for us to pick up those books so we can be the smartest tax-hikers we can be.  With that, we introduce to you:

The Republicans for Higher Taxes Summer Reading List

1.  Serving with Honor and Integrity, by Jean Schmidt
2.  Giving Back to the Community that Has Given You So Much, by Mike Brown
3.  Running an Effective Campaign, by Julie Matheny
4.  Staying Sane in an Insane World, by Simon Leis
5.  Getting Over the Bitterness of Losing an Election, by MS. Vicky Zwissler
6.  Working Hard for the Citizens who Elected You, by Tax Hikin’ Rick Bryan
7.  Effective Weight-loss Tips, by Tabitha Hochscheid
8.  Telling the Truth About Anything, by Jon Husted
9.  Being a Good Parent, by Lynn Larson
10. Keeping Taxes Low, by Virgil Lovitt
11.  I Will Win an Election Some Day Before I Die, by Martha Good
12.  Hiring Qualified Employees, by Tracy Winkler.  With a forward from Alex and Jennifer Triantafilou

Virgil Lovitt and Connie Pillich endorse higher taxes

Dear fellow tax hikers, our good friends Connie Pillich and Virgil Lovitt are joining together to bring higher property taxes to our area.  Both Pillich and Lovitt proudly endorsed the big Princeton Schools Property Tax Hike on next week's ballot.  We endorsed this tax increase in January because we, like Lovitt and Pillich, believe in raising taxes as high as possible.  Even though the Princeton School District already spends more money per student than 98% of school districts in Ohio, this tax increase is vitally important so that maybe someday they can be the #1 spenders in the state. 

"Please join me – and so many others such as every Princeton community mayor, former State Sen. Dick Finan and State Rep. Connie Pillich, in supporting this levy March 6."

For the great State Representative Connie Pillich, endorsing higher taxes is a routine endeavor.  We endorsed her in 2010 against the evil Mike Wilson because she quickly grew into one of this region's finest tax increasers.  Pillich wasted no time voting for former Governor Ted Strickland's big $900 million Income Tax hike and voted for $1.5 billion in fee increases after Strickland admitted fee increases are tax increases.  Pillich is so dedicated to higher taxes that she has to export them to other communities.  Pillich neither lives nor works in the Princeton School District, but is proud to impose higher property taxes on their undertaxed residents.

Our 2008 Tax Hiker of the Year Virgil Lovitt knows no borders when it comes to higher taxes.  This endorsement is only the latest in an astonishing list of tax increases that Virg has supported.  Income Tax increases, Sales Tax increases, numerous Property Tax increases, Hotel/Motel Tax increases - Virg has endorsed them all.  He is possibly the greatest tax hiker we have ever covered, and it's a travesty that he is stuck being Sharonville's Mayor instead of raising taxes at a higher level.  

Virgil Lovitt isn't just a tax hiker, he's a tax machine.  We greatly appreciate all the work he has done to bring higher taxes to his community.  We also thank Connie Pillich for working hard to raise taxes in other people's communities, since raising taxes in her own backyard apparently isn't fulfilling enough.  Please remember to vote Yes on the Princeton Property Tax increase.  Even though they already outspend most Ohio districts, they can't spend more if you aren't taxed more. 

The Virgil Lovitt Tax Hiking Contest

Dear fellow tax hikers, we ask for your participation.  We are having a contest to guess the date that Virgil Lovitt will endorse his next tax increase.

Last week we reported that the Princeton School District is seeking a big property tax hike on this March's ballot.  This happens to be the school district that our 2008 Tax Hiker of the Year Virgil Lovitt calls home.  Our man Virg has been a strong supporter of higher taxes, both in this school district and everywhere else.  While he has not yet endorsed this important tax hike, everyone knows he soon will.

With eager anticipation of this endorsement, we are now hosting a contest for our loyal readers.  We want all you tax hikers to pick the date that Virgil Lovitt will endorse the Princeton School District's Property Tax increase.  Enter your selection in the comments section.  The winner is the one who picks the closest date.  Good luck to everyone!

Princeton Schools seek huge tax hike

Dear fellow tax hikers, we proudly endorse the Princeton School District's 6.5 mill property tax hike on the ballot this March.  This excellent tax increase will cost homeowners $197.63 per $100,000 valuation.  It was less than two years ago the Princeton Schools passed another property tax increase, which we also endorsed along with our 2008 Tax Hiker of the Year Virgil Lovitt.  But that was then, more money is needed now.

As of Fiscal Year 2010 the Princeton School District spends $15,922 per student per year.  This places them the 10th biggest spender in Ohio out of approximately 613 public school districts.  In other words, Princeton already spends more money than over 98% of Ohio's districts. 

That isn't enough!  They need more.  Princeton residents must pay higher taxes so that their loving School Board can spend all the money they need.  Property taxes must continue to rise until Princeton Schools spend more money than every single school district in Ohio.  Tax us more!

Vote the Big Government Ballot on Tuesday!

Dear fellow tax hikers, Election Day is almost here and we can't wait to vote for higher taxes, bigger government, and for candidates who share our beliefs.  We are going to recap the endorsements we have already made, plus add a few more.

Top Priority - Re-elect Tax Hikin' Rick Bryan for Blue Ash City Council.  Rick is our 2011 Tax Hiker of the Year and his loss would be a huge setback for our pro-tax movement. 

Green Township Trustee - Vote against Jeffry Smith.  Green Township cannot afford a Trustee who will oppose nepotism and look out for the taxpayers.

Cincinnati City Council - Re-elect Leslie Ghiz, who in her career has endorsed a huge Sales Tax increase, voted to build the Streetcar, subsidized The Freedom Center, and endorsed Democrat David Pepper for County Commissioner to help the Democrats take over Hamilton County.  We also give our endorsement to deadbeat Jason Riveiro, tax-hiking goddess Roxanne Qualls, tax-hiking gay activist Chris Seelbach, and the streetcar-obsessed Laure Quinlivan. 

Wyoming City Council - We implore you to support MS. Vicky Zwissler in spite of her past electoral failures.  We also lend our support to ethically-challenged Democrat Jim O'Reilly, who was sanctioned by the Ohio Supreme Court for violating Judicial Canon 7(E)(1), and Barry Porter who loves higher taxes and gun control as much as he loves Twinkies and chocolate ice cream.  All three of these fantastic tax increasers voted to raise Wyoming's Income Tax by 60%. 

Sycamore School Board - You must vote against fiscal conservative Colleen Greissinger.  There is no room on this 5-person board for one single person who is fiscally conservative and opposes higher taxes.

Northwest School Board - We need you to vote against fiscal conservative Dan Unger.  Dan has said no to higher taxes and is trying to control spending.  Both of these ideas are unacceptable, as we need higher taxes and out-of-control spending. 

Colerain Fiscal Officer - It's urgent to vote against Heather Harlow.  Not only is she a fiscal conservative who dared to oppose Hamilton County Sales Tax increase in 2007, she is also a woman who supports our 2nd Amendment rights.  She needs to learn her role.

Sharonville Mayor - We are 100% behind Virgil Lovitt, our 2008 Tax Hiker of the Year.  He has so many more taxes to raise. 

Issue 2 - Vote NO!  We want union deciding how to spend your tax dollars, not our elected officials.  Voting down Issue 2 makes it more likely we'll need higher taxes in the near future!

Issue 3 - Vote NO!  We fully support Obamacare.  This issue opposes Obamacare and prohibits Ohio from enacting it's own Obama-style health care.

Issue 32 - This is a huge property tax increase so we fully support it.  

Issue 37 - This is a tax issue, therefore vote yes.

Issue 38 - This is a tax issue, therefore vote yes.

Issue 47 - Vote NO!  This amendment would ban a Trash Tax.  We want to tax your trash. 

Issue 48 - Vote NO!  This amendment would ban our beloved streetcar.

Virgil Lovitt for Sharonville Mayor

Dear fellow tax hikers, we strongly endorse 2008 Tax Hiker of the Year Virgil Lovitt for re-election as Sharonville's Mayor.  Virg has been a fantastic Mayor and is possibly the greatest active Hamilton County tax hiker we have.  There are too many examples of Virg's high-tax activism to list in one blog entry, but we'll make sure you get a chance to review his greatest hits.

As Mayor, Virgil supported a 50% increase in Sharonville's income tax.  In 2007 Virg endorsed a $777 million Sales tax increase for the undertaxed citizens of Hamilton County.  When Sharonville overpaid some of its employees by $500,000, Virg decided to be a gentleman and just let everyone keep the money.  A great Bob Taft Republican, Virg could not wait to endorse Taft's 3rd Frontier project which has worked to save Ohio's economy.  Virg endorsed and worked hard to more than double Hamilton County's lodging tax, legislation sponsored by tax hiker Jean Schmidt and signed into law by Taft - 3 legendary tax hikers working together to raise our taxes. 

There are so many more tax hikes and big government activity in Virg's record.  Virg endorsed a huge property tax increase for the Princeton Schools in 2007, which failed.  In 2010, with the Princeton Schools already spending more money per student than nearly every other school district in Ohio, Virg endorsed another huge property tax increase which fortunately passed.  Virg has been a strong supporter of proven tax hiker Jean Schmidt, opposed fiscal conservative Pat DeWine for Judge, and even endorsed and donated to Democrat Todd Portune.

We consider Virgil Lovitt to be the model public servant for our tax-and-spend movement.  Our only regret is that he is not serving us in a greater capacity.  If there was any justice in the world Virg would be a County Commissioner or State Representative while building up to a statewide run.  But Ohio's loss is Sharonville's gain.  We proudly give our strongest possible endorsement to Virgil Lovitt for Sharonville Mayor so that he can spend four more years endorsing every tax increase in the region.