West Chester's vibrant business environment, low crime rate, and growing amenities like the increase in parks and retail entertainment complexes has resulted in our community being named by Money Magazine as the 45th best place to live in the United States.

During her twelve years as a township trustee, West Chester has become the growth center for new business in the Cincinnati region, adding over six million square feet of new business construction and 400 new businesses or new business expansions since 1997. This dramatic growth in commercial construction is bringing many millions more in tax revenue each year to pay for our schools and other essential services. Residential services have also been improved, and the number of park acres has increased by 736 acres since Mrs. Stoker became Trustee. The largest park acreage acquisition was the 330 Voice of America acres donated by the Federal Government.

Mrs. Stoker is proudest of the township's acquisition of the 150-acre Beckett Park land, which had been approved by the county for over 900 new homes. This land purchase (the funds for which came from selling the 45-acre McGinnis Park land) has saved residents the cost of building and operating at least one new school-a savings of at least $8 million per year to the taxpayers in the Lakota School District.

Mrs. Stoker has also become well known for her work on environmental issues. During the early 1990s, Mrs. Stoker worked with the environmental group, CLEAN, and Ohio EPA to force Butler County to bring our water and sewer systems up to legal minimum standards. She was also very active with CLEAN in shutting down the BFI Infectious Medical Waste Incinerator which was polluting West Chester air with thousands of pounds of lead, mercury, and other toxins due to improper and illegal incineration practices.

Catherine Stoker regularly donates her time and money in supporting charitable organizations in the Township and Butler County. Catherine volunteers when needed as a dispatcher for West Chester's Senior Van service which gives seniors in West Chester Township free rides to doctor and hospital appointments, grocery shopping, etc.

She has helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations and grants for worthy causes in West Chester and Butler County, especially for Senior Citizens, Inc. and the Voice of America Museum. Mrs. Stoker is President of the Board of Trustees of Senior Citizens Inc., a charitable organization that operates three senior centers in Butler County and delivers about 700 meals each day to shut-ins. Mrs. Stoker is one of the founders of the Veterans' Voice of America Fund, a charitable organization that raises funds for the Voice of America Museum and Memorial Gardens, and to support veterans and emergency response organizations.

She also serves on the West Chester Economic Development Council, and is an active member of the West Chester Chamber Alliance, helping to create Impact 21, a leadership program for area teenagers. Mrs. Stoker also found time to serve on the OKI North South Initiative (Highway 75 Corridor Study) and volunteers with other community service organizations such as United Way, VFW Post 7696 Auxiliary, our local Masonic Lodge and Eastern Star.

Mrs. Stoker makes road improvements, safety, flood damage repair, quality business growth, emergency preparedness, and park system development her top priorities for West Chester Township. Catherine Stoker owns a small company, Brite Belt Technologies that has provided services to the computer industry for 15 years.

Mrs. Stoker and her husband, Michael, have a son, David, who graduated in 2000 from OSU, and is now finishing his doctoral work in the Physics Department at the University of Texas at Austin.

Mrs. Stoker welcomes comments and questions and may be reached at 777-0334, or through her email address, catherine@stoker.org.

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