Commissioner
Larry Solomon
On November 2, 2026
Solomon4Union…
Solomon4Commissioner…
Last Dance
Finishing My Service To The City
Vote Larry King Solomon, Commissioner.
On November 2, 2026
Solomon4Union…
Solomon4Commissioner…
Last Dance
Finishing My Service To The City
Vote Larry King Solomon, Commissioner.
Last Dance.
I have now served three terms (or 12 years) as your Mayor. Now it is time to pass the role of Mayor onto the next Mayor. This decision took a lot of thought and soul searching. Anyone in my position loves residents and friends to say…hey Mayor; how you doing? However, all good things have their lifespan. I believe in term-limits, so like former Union Mayors Kirby and Moore, who each served twelve years, I voluntarily decided to follow that practice and pass the torch to the next Mayor of Union.
In discussions with my family and city colleagues, I decided to run for Commissioner as my “last dance” in City of Union politics. As Commissioner, I can provide some continuity allowing the new Mayor to run his own administration. I will be assigned to one of the city committees, presumably EDC/Executive Committee to continue working with developers to help properly channel growth to best meet the needs of our beloved City of Union residents.
With your help, I would like one more “two-year term” in a Commissioner capacity to complete the job this administration started under my leadership nearly twelve years ago…again, my last dance!.
MANAGING GROWTH & TOWN PLAN UPDATE
I started an initiative several months ago to update the Union Town Plan…a plan that originated in 1999 and finalized in the early 2000s. While this administration has managed growth well, it was time to update planning into the end of the 2020s, into the 2030s, and beyond. A key component of this plan was to strictly restrict new development density levels and to put an end to high density rental apartments within the City of Union. The new town plan states that only 4 individual homes can be developed per acre; or, 6 multi-family patio homes can be developed per acre.
Strictly sticking to these density requirements helps to moderate growth and keep property values up. Let me explain. Suppose a developer approaches a land-owner to develop his or her land. Because Union is the place to be in Boone County, Union land prices are naturally quite high. The land-owner gives the developer his or her price, and the developer says the only way to make money on this deal is for the city to grant an exception to stated density requirements…meaning more units per acre. If the city sticks to its no exemption policy…which we will…the developer will have to convince the land-owner to lower his or her price, or no deal is done. The result of the city sticking to its no exemption policy will be that land costs become a bit more reasonable, and rapid growth slows down. This is how to best manage city growth and keep existing property values high.
CURRENT ISSUES AND PROJECTS.
Taxation and Licensing
There has been some confusion about City of Union Taxation. I would like to clarify any mis-perceptions.
Property Taxation
I have served as your Mayor for the past nearly 12 years. This administration has not raised Property Tax in all that time. Your current Property Tax is .201 per $100 assessed valuation on all real property. I voted for this year to lower property to $0.196 per $100 valuation for the next year. Union residents should not have to pay more tax; they should pay less.
Business Licensing
The cost of the Business License is $50…a nominal fee covering administrative costs. The purpose of this part of the legislation is…to help the city to better keep track of all businesses operating with the city limits.
Payroll Taxation
A 2% Payroll Tax is assessed among only those who work within the city limits of Union. This is important:
- If one lives in the City of Union, but does not work within the city limits, he or she does not pay payroll taxation! Most Union residents fall within this category.
- If one does not live in the City of Union but works within the city limits, he or she pays payroll taxation.
- If one lives and and works in the City of Union, he or she pays payroll taxation.
Union Town Square
Promenade Center
Started in 2021 and 2022, this $170 million project is just about being completed. To make this project a reality, the city initiated an Industrial Revenue Bond (IRB). This means the city technically owns the property the Promenade sets upon, and the city shares payroll taxation for those that work on that property. The norm for Payment In Lieu Of Taxes (PILOT) is 20% for the city and 80% for the developer. We negotiated 40% for the city and 60% for the developer. This was great for the city; however, it meant higher rent for retailers renting. The developer made up their loses by charging higher rental/selling rates. Mom-and-Pop local businesses have founded harder to move to this higher rental district. So, the developer sought more chain businesses populate the Promenade retail space.
Now, not all businesses now within the Promenade are going to make it for the long term. When those that do not make, like By Gollys and The Works Pizza restaurants, this opens the door for more local higher end restaurants moving in to take their place. We will achieve our goal for more high-end restaurants to populate the Promenade. It will take a bit more time. You can be assured that the city is is always pushing for more higher end restaurants, and we will continue to do so.
Union Business Town Center.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS MAYOR.
Sale of Old City Building.
The city will be moving into the new city building in the Spring of 2027. We knew that we had to sell the old city building. The property surrounding the old city building is owned by Christ Hospital. They wanted our property so they owned the entire block of property from Bristow Road to Mt. Zion Road. And, they wanted it before they announced the building start of their new Ambulatory Care Center. The property where the old city building sits was assessed for about $300,000+/-. I worked out a deal with Christ Hospital to purchase our old city building for $900,000 plus allowing allowing the city to remain in the building “rent free” until June 30, 2027. I am a good negotiator.
Working with Board Of Elections to make sure no future voting mistakes will be made in Union.
After the November 2024 election, polling mistakes within two City of Union voting locations were uncovered and law suits took place. As a result, election results for City Commissioners were thrown out! I personally spent a lot of time working with Justin Crigler, Boone County Clerk, to make sure that for all future elections proper and right ballots will be printed on the spot at voting locations where City of Union residents and Unicorporated Boone County residents vote together. What happened was that poll workers gave out wrong pre-printed ballots to voters at the stated two City of Union voter locations. It was determined that in the November 2024 election over 800 out of 2,400 ballots were mis-handled. Through my efforts with Justin Crigler, voting printing machines will be in place to make sure that proper ballots are printed on the spot for all future elections at those two Union voting locations that had problems in 2024.
Brilliance Ave. Extension from Bristow Ave. to Harmony.
I fought very hard for that stretch of road to be developed. This road section did not cost Union residents one red cent! This road extension was funded with federal funding and a kind donation of monies and land from the Grammas family. They donated the land that this road extension was built upon, and nearly $200,000 to cover the amount where building costs exceeded stated federal funding. While some Commissioners did not want this project completed, the good news is that residents use and really like this road extension.
Graeter’s/Braxton/Dewey’s Development.
This is one of my greatest accomplishments as Mayor. Due to a personal relationship with Richard Graeter and the Rouse family (owners of Braxton Brewery), I was able to pull this project together several years ago. Today, the Graeter’s store in Union is one of their top 3 stores chainwide! Braxton and Dewey’s is one of the hot spots for residents to go to each and every week. When I drive by this development, I just smile knowing that I had a lot to do with this project becoming a reality. Please go there and enjoy!
Promenade Center.
This center is discussed under Current Issues/Projects. Developing a $170 million dollar project and seeing all the retail businesses operating, houses being sold, and apartments being rented is quite an accomplishment…all of which being completed under this administration and my leadership. It took a lot of blood, sweat, and tears, but it was all worth it.
Administration.
When I took office as Mayor nearly 12 years ago, administration was a Clerk Assistant Clerk, and the Cemetery Sexton. The very first meeting of our new administration, the Commission hired our first City Administrative Officer (CAO)…David Martin, who today is the Boone County Clerk of Courts. The next position created was a Communications Director. We then went onto create a Public Works Director to replace the City Engineer contracted position. Last addition was an Assistant Clerk position. The major effort of the first four years I was Mayor was to build a first class administrative staff. Today our staff is the best staff I have ever worked within government and business sectors.
Today we are on our fifth CAO. After David Martin, we hired Matt Dowling; he is now Boone County’s Assistant County Administrator. After Matt Dowling, came David Plummer; he is now Alexandria’s CAO. Then came Amy Safran; she just move to Washington State with her husband. Our fifth CAO is Paul Kremer; our former Public Works Director. Kelly Preston is his replacement. The City of Union has now gained a reputation for being an excellent training ground. I am proud to have trained these fine former CAOs.
Committees.
Relations.
Boone County Planning Commission (BCPC).
The Boone County Planning Commission (BCPC) provides the county and each city with planning and zoning services based on a memorandum of understanding signed back in 1966/revised 1976. For this service each government entity pays BCPC an annual service fee. When I first became Mayor, BCPC informed each Boone County government entity as to what annual service fee they thought each entity should pay. Unfortunately, there was no real quantitative measurement in their rationale for their fee requests. I developed a quantitative measurement system for each Boone County government entity to pay its fair share based on population or on a per capita basis. Each city and the county accepted this funding system, and it still holds today…12 years later. So as a result of the funding system I developed, the City of Union now pays its fair share and is not over charged as it was before this system was initiated. We now have a strong working relationship with BCPC; we hope to continue that relationship in the future.
Family and Qualifications
Family
Personal Profile
Larry Solomon Accomplishments.
Public Sector: Hold Master of Arts; Public Administration Ohio State. Employed by the Ohio Youth Commission as Administration Director. I was the campaign manager and pollster for several political campaigns. From 2008 to 2015, I was President and Board Member of the Hampshire HOA.
Business Sector. Hold MBA from Ohio State. Employed by Valvoline, Procter & Gamble, and Kimberly-Clark. Accomplishments:
- Responsible for conducting all marketing research for the following new product introductions…
- SafetyKleen EcoPower Motor Oil, 2008. Project completed as President of Strategic Resources, Inc.
- Valvoline MaxLife Motor Oil, 2000; Valvoline DuraBlend, 1995. Projects completed as Senior Manager Marketing Research Valvoline.
Business Sector Industry Papers. I authored five National Petrochemical Refiners Association (NPRA) industry papers on U.S Lubricant Demand (1988, 2000, 2005, 2006, 2008 and 2013). These papers determined the size of the overall each segment of U. S. lubricant market and projected demand five years into the future.
Business Sector Published Articles. I have written numerous articles in Lubes & Greases magazine until 2015.
Employment History
Larry Solomon Employment History.
April 2006 to Present: Strategic Resources, Inc., Union, KY.
Title: President
Strategic Resources, Inc. is a strategic planning marketing research consulting firm. The sole purpose of SRI is to provide clients with fact-based marketing information for them to make better and more informed decisions. Qualitative and Quantitative research methodology techniques are used to support areas of specialization. I am a Burke trained qualitative research moderator and conduct all SRI qualitative research projects.
May, 1984 to April 2006: Valvoline Company, Division of Ashland, Inc., Lexington KY.
Title: Senior Manager, Marketing Research.
Responsibilities: As the head of all lubricant marketing research (domestic/global, consumer/B2B), strategic planning, and category management for Valvoline Marketing. Additionally, I assessed “market size”, “trends”, “consumer and trade behavior”, “lifestyle/geo-demographic modeling”, and “competitive activity” as related to strategic planning and direction. I retired from Valvoline April 1, 2006.
Nov., 1981 to May, 1984: The Procter & Gamble Company, Cincinnati, OH
Title: Marketing Research Supervisor.
Responsibilities: Responsible for conducting all marketing research study projects for the Paper Division; specific brands included Always, Charmin, Banner, and Attends. Prior to Paper, I was responsible for Norwich Pharmaceutical Division marketing research; specific brands included Pepto-Bismol, Chloroseptic, Norwich Aspirin, and Norforms.
June, 1979 to Nov. 1981: Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Neenah WI
Title: Marketing Research Analyst.
Responsibilities: Responsible for conducting all marketing research projects for feminine protection products; specific brands New Freedom, Kotex, Lightdays, and Anydays.
Jan. 1974 to Sep. 1978: The Ohio Youth Commission, Columbus OH
Title: Administration Director.
Responsibilities. Responsible for all Business and Personnel departments for the Training Center for Youth, an OYC facility. I had 80 employees working for me. Obtained first graduate degree while working; departed to attend graduate school for second degree full-time.
Education
Larry Solomon Education.
The Ohio State University, Columbus OH
Earned: Master of Business Administration, specializing in Marketing and Marketing Research. June 1979.
The Ohio State University, Columbus OH
Earned: Master of Arts, Public Administration, specializing in Personnel and Labor Relations. August 1976.
Kent State University, Kent OH
Earned: Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Political Science.