Thank you Flowery Branch for electing me your City Councilman four years ago, and I hope I have earned your trust to elect me your City Councilman for four more years.

I have been entrusted by you to lead the City of Flowery Branch during a period of time that Flowery Branch hasn’t seen, probably ever in its history – extreme growth, but now we are in an economic environment that needs even stronger leadership to guide the 20^th fastest growing city in Georgia and the second largest in Hall County to be even stronger and more vibrant. 

In the last two years we have had several challenges to keep your taxes low while still providing the best services any city can provide to ensure your quality of life is sustained.  Without proper leadership, Flowery Branch could falter financially and economically and I promise to keep Flowery Branch financially and economically strong.

What have I accomplished since being on the Flowery Branch City Council:

1. Communication.

a. I voted twice to move the City Council meetings to the evenings during my first two years, however, I was voted down twice and not until those who voted against the move were off the council did I finally get the votes to move the meetings to the evenings as I promised during my last campaign.

2. Taxes.

a. I proposed and voted to reduce your millage rate (your property taxes) and was voted down in my first year on the council.

3. Subsidies.

a. I voted against unequal water and sewer rates twice, based on when you moved into the City of Flowery Branch, until those who established those rates, and voted for them, were off the council and was a leader to ensure water and sewer rates were equal for all citizens of Flowery Branch who were on those systems.

 
4. Size of government.

a. I fought giving exuberant raises to certain personal without merit.

b. I opposed adding new staff to government and those positions were never approved.

c. The general fund budget has decreased by 5.95% from FY 2009 to FY 2012 while maintaining the same services.

5. Ethics.

a. I voted for a stronger ethics ordinance to ensure our elected officials are held to the highest standards.

b. Led the debate on unethical actions of elected officials.

What I will vote for in the next four years:

1. Taxes.

a. I will vote to reduce your millage rate (your property taxes) because it is your money and you know how spend it better than the government does.

2. Wasteful Spending

a. I will ensure we do not spend your tax dollars on studies, grants, and consultants in which staff can perform for less, unless they are out of the realm of staff’s knowledge or expertise of the subject matter.

3. Roads and infrastructure

a. I will ensure we establish a real roads and infrastructure program to repave and repair our aging roads as well as start to replace the water and sewer pipes that are deteriorating especially in the “Old Town” area. No more studies and plans on paper without funding.

b. I will ensure we develop a better storm drain system and start building sidewalks in areas of town that need one or both especially in the “Old Town” area.

4. Subsides.

a. I will vote to reduce unequal services and ensure everybody pays the same rate for the same services.

5. Ethics

a. Will continue to expose unethical actions of elected officials.