The Campaign
I am looking forward to the opportunity to serve the citizens of Tullahoma as an alderman. Some of the issues that I believe are extremely important to the city at this time are:
Attendance - I have hesitated to bring this issue into the campaign because it gives the appearance of being a personal attack. However, due to the incumbent candidate's absence from perhaps the most important board meeting of the year on Monday, June 27, and then his absence from the candidate debate on Tuesday, June 28, I can no longer allow this issue to go unnoticed. Mr. Darden is seldom present at board meetings. Mr. Cope's listing of the chronological events relating to the downtown development issue clearly points to Mr. Darden's absence on most occassions. A candidate cannot govern and help create policy when that candidate is not present. I will be at every meeting unless there is a family emergency or another committment that cannot be avoided. I will schedule business trips and vacations around board meetings whenever possible.
Jobs - We have lost hundreds of jobs in the last couple of years. We must do a better job of selling Tullahoma to potential industry and business. We must work harder to create an environment that encourages business to locate here. The consolidation of our Industrial Boards was a step in the right direction. We now should pull together the best marketing/promotions people available and develop a comprehensive marketing approach, leveraging our existing strengths such as AEDC, our schools, and the airport. We must be able to offer young families a quality life, so that they move here and fill the jobs that new business can bring. If we fail to create new jobs then we grow stagnant and we cease to be a thriving, vibrant community.
Schools - One of our most important assets is our city school system. I will support our teachers in every way possible, knowing that they are the heart and sole of any successful school system. With multiple capital improvements being talked about recently, it is imperative that we find methods to continue to fund our school system adequately. City schools systems like Tullahoma's are becoming more rare each year, and the challenge of maintaining them at their present level are going to become more challenging each year.
Seniors - The fastest-growing demographic in Tullahoma at this time is our senior citizens. I believe that seniors, especially those on fixed incomes, deserve a break when it comes to paying property taxes. I also believe that we should strive to develop more recreation and socialization opportunities for this demographic. I will make it one of my top priorities to propose a property tax break for seniors on fixed incomes.
Taxes - Although I will never be in favor of property tax increases, I understand that simply maintaining the status-quo in providing city services in unacceptable. We must explore options to generate increased revenue. The subject of taxes is never a popular one in election campaigns. However, one can simply look around at Tullahoma's capital improvements in recent years, or the lack of, to realize that somehow, someway we must find ways to increase revenue. I will work to increase sales tax revenue and the business/industry tax flow, and work to decrease the dependence on property taxes to fund city government. I am in favor of studying the concept of user fees, which funnels the responsibility of maintaining certain services to the people who use those services and not the general population.
Traffic - The recent study of Tullahoma by Angelou Economics states that a lack of long-range planning has created a growing traffic problem in Tullahoma. We must address this issue immediately. The widening and development of the Cedar Lane corridor is crucial to helping to lighten the burden on Jackson St. I will work to help create a broad traffic strategy that seeks to divert through traffic away from shopping districts, creating a better environment for shoppers.
Downtown - It's time for us to take a serious approach to the revitalization of downtown. The recent study by Angelou Economics highlights the lack of appeal of downtown Tullahoma, and how that is a stumbling block to attracting and retaining business. The discussion of the potential development at the corner of Jackson and Grundy is a step in the right direction. We need for money to be spent on property development, and when someone approaches the city about projects then the city owes its citizens to listen. We must encourage more creative ideas about converting downtown areas into new, attractive storefronts. There is a lot more to downtown than just that one issue, and we need to work to make it more accessible and conducive to parking and shopping.
Airport - The Angelou study, which I believe Tullahoma's leaders and citizens should strongly consider, highlights the fact that the airport is one of our most important assets. I don't believe we are using this asset anywhere close to its full potential. I won't comment on the recent internal struggles inside the Airport Authority, since I only know what I have read in the newspapers. I will say that if our tax dollars are not being fully utilized to make the airport more functional, and successful, then we should address that issue. A thriving airport, with the surrounding opportunities for commercial development, could lessen the property tax burden on Tullahoma's citizens considerably.
City Services - This is one area that many citizens take for granted. Our trash gets picked up, the building fire gets put out, and the beer joint is closed down. We don't often consider the costs that are associated with these departments. We also don't often consider how new training, equipment, and personnel are needed. We don't understand how methods and hardware get outdated and unusable. Our police department desperately needs a new facility. Our fire department is sacrificing training and much-needed equipment. Waste workers and road crews and recreation personnel need better wages and better advancement opportunities. These services cost money, more every year, and we cannot afford to allow them to remain status-quo.
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