Economic Growth:

“Getting back to basics” is a term with which we should get familiar. What was once an area surrounded by tobacco fields is now a world technology leader. This didn’t happen overnight and re-starting Raleigh’s economic engine won’t happen overnight either. We must begin with strong leadership from Raleigh’s City Council.  Leadership is demonstrated by articulating a vision of where we want to go and inspiring others to join together to achieve more than one person alone can achieve.

Whether pursuing prospects who are looking at Raleigh for relocation, or working with local small and medium sized businesses to prosper in our city, I will remain committed to growing and attracting investment and jobs to the area.  Small and medium sized businesses carry a considerable burden each day to make payroll, provide customer service and seek to grow new business opportunities.  The last thing that job-creators need is a non-responsive inflexible local government with burdensome permitting processes and uncertain response times.  For too long the city government has put up roadblocks to your success instead of partnering to create jobs and opportunity for our citizens.  I am committed to a “48 hour turn around time” after a company has revised and re-submitted its plans for approval.

Just as we market the city to industrial prospects, we should market the city to convention prospects.  I will be ready, willing and able to pitch in to promote Raleigh as the right location for meetings and conventions.  Our city has great facilities to host a wide range of events that will provide jobs and fuel the economy.

Raleigh can and must compete.  Strong leadership, enhanced commitment, energy and new ideas on the City Council will position Raleigh to make progress.

Cutting Wasteful Spending

I believe the tough economic times that we are experiencing places a greater demand on local government to provide strong leadership.  My leadership will focus on continuing to provide vital city services and focus on working tirelessly to create jobs and opportunity.   We are all feeling the pinch of the tough economy.  If you, like many families, are finding it more difficult just to make ends meet, you are not alone.  I believe we as a city can do better than having no options other than increasing the fees and the tax burdens on our citizens. You deserve a City Councilor who will work to cut the cost of city government – a Councilor who will trust you to keep  more of your money and spend it as you see fit, not as the City government sees fit.

In order to reduce your taxes, I see no other way than to cut wasteful spending.  When spending is growing faster than revenues, it is simply not sustainable.  When in office, I plan to start at the top with the city administration.  Each expense, whether travel or training, is to be  scrutinized.  Capital projects must also be closely examined and either reduced, postponed or eliminated.  Existing consulting contracts can be  looked at so that we can get rid of those that are not making a positive impact on our city.  There is also an option to pass a spending cap in a referendum to settle the dispute between Real Needs and Unaffordable Wants. Tough times mean tough decisions.  Tough decisions are made by effective leaders.

Public Safety: 

Citizens’ expectations for public safety and civil preparedness are rising, at the same time the need to tighten budgets and to have broader oversight is increasing. The ever present budget pressures drive you to do more with less. Public safety is too critical to compromise. I will be an advocate for our police, firefighters and all first responders so that they continue to respond in real time, protecting our citizens and property. Public safety isn’t just about having enough first responders to aid us when the needs arise…it’s also about taking care of the Police, Fire and other city employees who take care of us every day. Our police officers need to have the tools that allow them to fight the growing gangs and drug issues. We need to ensure that our first responders keep pace with our population with the continued addition of satellite police stations. I will work closely with our first responders to ensure that we capture all unmet and future needs of public safety.