Editor's Note: As part of Westlake Patch's local election coverage, we will provide profiles of each of the candidates running for office. These profiles will offer biographical and issue-oriented details about each of the candidates to help you, the voters, make more-informed decisions at the ballot box. Stay tuned for more coverage of the election.

Name: Thomas Mays

Date of Birth: Feb. 12, 1961

Occupation: Attorney

Education: Bachelor of Science from Cleveland State University (1983), Juris Doctorate from Cleveland Marshall College of Law (1986)

Family: Wife Beth, daughter Sara (a senior at Columbia College), and son Michael (a sophomore at the University of Cincinnati)

Years Residing in Westlake: 18

Office Sought: Westlake Board of Education

Previous Public Offices Held: Current President of the Westlake Board of Education— appointed in 2005, re-elected in 2007

Registered: Republican

Email: tm44145@sbcglobal.net

Campaign Web Page: ReelectMays.com

Candidate Statement: A school board member should be guided by our district' s mission statement which is "We Educate For Excellence". A board member must do what is in the best interest of the students, while being fiscally prudent. Being fiscally prudent requires one to look at both the short term and long term effects and not what just sounds good for the papers. I look forward to being able to continue to help provide the best education possible within the financial parameters established by our taxpayers.

If anyone reviews the performance of this district they will learn that we have once again been rated "Excellent" as a school district for the 13th consecutive year. They will also learn that we have achieved our highest Performance Index rating in the history of the district. Both of these achievements place the Westlake schools in a select group of districts in the State.   

On the financial side of the district, people will learn that our bond rating from Standard & Poor's and Moody's places us in the top 4-5% of all school districts in Ohio. They will also learn that we have extended the life of our last operating levy well beyond the timeframe promised to the voters. These achievements occur because of sound fiscal practices and reviewing all areas of the budget to save money for the taxpayers. In the last 4-6 years, we have saved millions of dollars through various initiatives and cost-saving measures. We will continue to review ways to save money, keeping Westlake taxes lower than most other communities, while still providing the excellent education that is synonymous with Westlake.  

Our strong school district helps the community of Westlake to thrive; attracts home buyers, thereby keeping property values up; and attracts businesses like American Greetings to relocate to Westlake.

I would ask for everyone's vote on Nov. 8 so that we can "maintain the excellence" of our schools and community.

For more candidate profiles and election news, visit Election Central 2011.