Publisher’s Notes
Are they in it for you?
By Ronda Watson Barber, publisher
The May primary is next Tuesday. Many will be asking for our precious votes. There are some candidates who are banking on the fact that some voters will make uneducated choices. Some take for granted that they have our vote for a variety of reasons. Others feel they don’t need to campaign for our vote, it’s in the bag.
The editorial staff of OhioMBE has the longstanding goal of providing relevant information to the minority business community. We want business owners to make good decisions. We are advocates for minority business and micro-enterprises. We whole-heartedly believe that the minority business community must take an active role in fighting for issues of importance to foster economic development. We must participate in the creation and enforcement of legislation that benefit micro-enterprises.
OhioMBE encourages all citizens to become informed voters. Elected officials must be held accountable for the votes they cast on our behalf. They are elected to better the lives of those who elected them not advance their own political aspirations at the expense of the community. During the campaign season, many politicians will say wherever is necessary to get elected. The important questions are what they will do when they are in office and how do we make them keep their promises? Are they looking out for us? As small and minority business owners consider asking the following questions to those seeking public office and your vote.
1. What have you done for minority businesses during your career?
2. What do you promise to do for minority businesses if elected?
3. Why should minority business owners vote for you?
4. How important is minority business development to the overall Ohio economy?
5. Are minority business set-asides and goals in city/county/state government still important and why? (The City of Columbus doesn’t have set-asides or goals.)
6. Why isn’t the city/county/state meeting its MBE and EDGE purchasing goals? (The City of Columbus doesn’t have set-asides or goals.)
7. What can the city/county/state do to improve its purchasing with minority businesses?
8. What measures are being taken to insure that state law is followed and procurement goals are met?
9. What should minority owned businesses do to get city/county/state contracts?
10. Is there anything else, aside from contracting that the city/county/state can do to assist MBE’s?
Just my thoughts…
rwb
