VOTE

My name is Joe Eureste and I am running for a 6th term on city council, as an At-Large
Councilman.

When I was first elected on city council in 2002, I felt I needed to learn two things; the first was
understanding more about the economic development process and the second was
understanding the basic function of a municipality.

I felt understanding these two, city government functions, would help me make better
decisions; in serving the city.

So, I joined three economic development organizations and took the classes they offered to
gain the knowledge that I needed.

The first organization I joined was our local Defiance County Community Improvement
Corporation, CIC for short. Joining the CIC gave me an opportunity to network on business and
development issues on capital investments and meet local leaders.

The next organization I joined was the Northwest Ohio Regional Economic Development
(NORED) that is central to Toledo and has 12 counties that it serves; with Defiance County
being one of them.

NORED acts as an exchange of information center among its members, promotes job
opportunities, and enhances economic development.

The third organization I joined was the Ohio Economic Development Association (OEDA) that is
central to Columbus.

The goal of the OEDA was to improve the competitive edge for Ohio vs. other states in
economic development, job opportunities, and improve the business climate for Ohio.

From my involvement with these 3 organizations, I gained the valuable insight that I needed to
understand the economic development process; that promotes our Defiance business climate.
Next, I needed to understand the powers and duties of the municipal government.

So, I enrolled in the Ohio Municipal League-Municipal Leadership Training Academy.
To graduate, I took the required accumulation of 40 credits over a two-year period; in
Columbus, Ohio; taking courses in: 1) general powers of municipalities, 2) powers and duties of
municipal officials, 3) municipal financial management 4) ethics and leadership.

On June 25 th , 2006, I was proud that an article appeared in our local newspaper stating that I
had successfully completed the required certification for the Municipal Leadership Training
Academy.

In closing, I felt the time and travel in joining these organizations and attending the classes in
Columbus, has helped improve my understanding of my role and function as a councilman; so I
can better serve our community.

On November 4th, I would appreciate your vote for At-Large Councilman.

Joe Eureste