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Promoting Economic Development
With the presence of an energetic population eager for good jobs and as home of the state’s flagship university, Athens will be a leader in our state and our nation in workforce development. We will demonstrate that a town can thrive with investments in new technologies and growth industries. Exciting possibilities include opportunities in medicine, improvements in housing stock and energy efficiency, and emerging energy technologies that will allow Athens’ economy to grow in a way that ensures our health and the long-term quality of our environment. A new state medical college at the site of the Navy Supply School can bring not only teaching and research positions, but a large support staff and local service-sector growth. Providing a mechanism for improvements in energy efficiency and stronger housing stock will add value to our homes and neighborhoods and provide good paying jobs to local residents. Responding to increasing demand for alternatives to petroleum and fossil fuels, and creating a viable way to provide rural landowners with income, alternative energy production would be an asset to Athens.
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Engaging in Collaborations and Strategic Partnerships
A spirit of collaboration is essential in Athens with so many entities that face parallel challenges and opportunities. As a County Commissioner I will promote active engagement between the Athens-Clarke County Government and other important local institutions, particularly The University of Georgia, the Clarke County School District, Athens Tech and area businesses. The University is a source of enormous pride for our community, and we should encourage all departments to develop learning partnerships that address real needs in Athens. The newly funded University of Georgia Office of Service Learning can play a vital role in connecting students and faculty with opportunities to learn and serve in Athens. Similarly, the ACC Government and the Clarke County School District can work together to provide mentorship and internships to local students, giving young people the support and stake in their community that will support positive, lifelong citizenship skills. In these and many other areas, successful partnerships will strengthen and unify Athens.
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Strengthening Public Transportation
Effective transportation options, including a high quality public transit system, provide the opportunity for Athens’ residents and businesses to thrive and allow roots to be established within the community. Strong neighborhood ties bring stability for families and children, allowing public school students to remain in the same schools, and leading to a host of social and academic benefits for children. When we improve transportation options, we support cleaner air and water and lead our community in a positive direction that does not require ever-increasing public and private expenditures on road and fuel costs. Through careful decision making now, we can avoid the long-term expenses associated with increasing pollution and degradation of our natural environment.
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Improving Public Safety
It is vital that our public safety officers are given the compensation they deserve to ensure that Athens receives the best, most experienced protection possible. When we compensate our officers adequately, we will attract the best candidates for the job and retain them as members of our community who are able to develop good long-term relationships with the public. Research is clear in demonstrating the connection between a well staffed police department and a reduction in crime. The people of Athens deserve the best police department possible to improve the safety of our neighborhoods.
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Encouraging Community Development
We have a rich stock of neighborhoods and commercial centers in Athens. Unfortunately, many of these areas have become under-utilized. We can work to attract business and residents to these areas through incentives and support. Supporting existing areas so they reach their potential makes the best possible use of our tax-funded infrastructure and services and lowers the future burden on residents and businesses. We can design opportunities that allow us to have a greater array of housing and employment options centered in the county, attract new residents, reduce traffic congestion, limit pollution, and maintain affordable places to live. The Classic City is a jewel of a community that can shine even more brightly with these efforts.
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Eliminating and Preventing Poverty
We live in a community that has faced endemic poverty for many generations. Early in the last century, as the regional economy transitioned from a primarily agricultural base, many families moved to Athens seeking employment and have not yet been effectively supported. Poverty is the bane of Athens. Our poverty rate can be diminished through strategic investment and wise economic development. This must happen to bring hope to all Athenians. In and of itself, poverty is a challenge, as people struggle to afford good housing, seek quality child care and find time to enjoy their lives. Poverty also brings with it a host of problems – medical challenges, the parasites of addiction and violence and a desperation that pervades generations of good people. As we act to eliminate poverty for those who have lived under its shadow, we must also develop robust prevention efforts. The recent Partners for a Prosperous Athens initiative, and a host of long-established organizations deserve the support necessary to usher in a rising tide that will lift up all Athenians.
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Delivering Open and Responsive Government
Democracy requires representatives to reach out to seek input from residents to determine the needs that must be addressed. As county commissioner, I will be accessible to citizens and provide multiple avenues for ideas and opinions. I will work for opportunities to keep residents well-informed. The neighborhood notification initiative, which the Planning Department uses to inform residents of registered neighborhoods about rezoning applications, is a good step which can be strengthened to inform residents without access to email. We can post in schools, community centers, grocery stores and other places frequented by all citizens. Furthermore, the system can be expanded to include information from other departments, including Public Works, Transportation and Leisure Services.
In addition, public meetings must work for the constituents of Athens –public input should not happens after midnight when many working people must choose between active engagement in government and taking care of personal needs. Currently, the commission meets for two monthly televised meetings in which public comment is accepted – the agenda setting and the voting meetings. Typically, the agenda setting meeting ends by 9:30 or 10:00 p.m., while the voting meeting occasionally lasts late into the night. By shifting some of the tasks from the voting meeting to the agenda setting meeting, and by carefully attending to the tasks at hand, we can ensure that all meetings occur at times accessible to Athenians.
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Valuing Our Natural Environment
Georgia has seen more than its share of environmental problems. We live in the wake of farming practices that saw us lose inches of topsoil and muddy our rivers, traffic and pollution that clouded our clean air, and development decisions that further diminished our quality of life. Now is the time when we can say we are willing to make good decisions armed with the wisdom of experience.
We can set a positive direction through a host of opportunities. When we protect the stability of the earth beneath us with erosion and grading controls, when we protect the tree canopy above us, when we continue to work for clean water through effective stream buffers and runoff procedures, and when we encourage development that relies on existing infrastructure, rather eliminating trees and fields, we take stock in our lives and our future. We benefit from these things in the beauty and sustainability of our environment, but we also benefit economically, as we avoid cleanup costs and damage to our health, lower our energy bills and avoid spending money on development that costs more in maintenance than it generates in tax revenue.
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