Regional government draws crowd to U.D. symposium

DAYTON,Ohio (WDTN) - Talk of combining 26 communities into one metro-government took another step forward as the University of Dayton hosted a daylong discussion on regionalism June 8.

Two hundred Life Long Learning students listened to several guest speakers, including Montgomery County Commissioner and regional advocate, Dan Foley.

"We're well intentioned people," Foley said. "But we tend to fight against each other because of the very nature and the very structure of our government."

Former Ohio governor Bob Taft told the group that changes would have to come from Columbus. 

"It's not that tough to go to Columbus and get a law changed," he said. "But there can't be disagreement. Everybody's got to be on board."

Keynote speaker Mike Shea, who took part in the 2 NEWS 2009 forum on regionalism, said it transformed Lousville and helped that region weather this latest economic downturn.

Sheas said, "our economic development profile has been raised.  We went from being something like the 56th largest city to the 16th largest city in the country."

Shea believes the same thing could happen in Dayton.

"An efficient goverment with less waste and duplication where it's one stop shopping, people who want to come in here puts you in a much better situation."

A place Shea, Foley and others would very much like to be.