The "Cole Train" has been replaced...

...by a new campaign slogan for Councilwoman Laketa Cole's 2007 run for office. This year's theme? COLE: Collaboration, Optimism, Leadership and Experience.

She's kicking off the campaign tonight at the Vernon Manor Hotel, 400 Oak Street, 6 p.m.

"During my tenure on City Council, I have been successful in increasing economic stability, increasing access to City Hall and increasing home ownership by working in an open and collaborative way, being optimistic about our future, taking leadership roles on many important issues and using my experience as a two-term council member," she writes in her announcement. "I look forward to continuing my service on Cincinnati City Council."

On her list of accomplishments: spearheading the effort to put money in the 2007-08 budget for youth jobs and youth violence prevention; leveraging the Community Reinvestment Act to increase home ownership and decrease foreclosure; creating the Neighborhoods in the Neighborhood program, which brings council meetings out of City Hall and into communities; andcreating the Neighborhood Business District Support Fund.


E-mail laketacole@yahoo.com