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From YouTube: (2017) 10-16 - Monroe Political Candidate Forum
Description
Description
A
Excuse
me:
I,
don't
live
in
the
city
of
Monroe,
therefore
I'm
not
going
to
vote,
and
that's
why
I
was
chosen
to
moderate
tonight
tonight,
we'll
hear
from
three
candidates
running
for
mayor
John,
Howard,
Sandra,
Stirling
and
Greg
Thompson,
we'll
also
hear
from
councilmember
candidates
for
district
3
and
district
8
from
district
3.
Leon
voice
will
not
be
here
tonight:
Ross
Bradley
and
Adrian
Brown
from
district
8.
We
have
David
Dickenson,
Lydia
Garrett
will
not
be
here
tonight
and
Jimmy
Richardson
who's.
A
The
incumbent,
each
candidate,
will
have
three
minutes
to
give
their
introductions
after
introductions,
we
will
have
a
total
of
seven
questions.
Alternating
who
answers
the
questions.
First,
each
candidate
will
answer
all
questions
and
will
have
one
minute
for
their
answers.
After
we
conclude
with
questions,
each
candidate
will
give
a
two-minute
closing.
This
is
a
forum
only
and
not
a
debate.
If
you
need
to
rebut
anything
said
you
can
use
your
time
and
closing
remarks
to
do
so.
Kerri
Rose
is
going
to
be
our
timekeeper
tonight.
A
Candidates
when
you
see
her
hold
up
the
30
sign,
you
have
30
seconds
left
and
when
she
holds
up
the
zero
side.
Excuse
me
please
finish
your
sentence
and
your
time
will
be
done.
We
will
follow
the
program
order,
beginning
with
the
candidates
for
mayor,
followed
by
district
3
and
then
district
8
candidates.
Again,
you
have
three
minutes
for
your
introductions:
mayoral
candidate,
John
Howard.
Thank.
B
You
miss
Shanahan,
thank
you
to
the
chamber
and
to
the
city
of
Monroe
for
allowing
us
to
have
this
conversation
tonight.
I
really
appreciate
all
of
you
taking
an
interest
in
helping
our
town
move
forward.
My
name
is
John
Howard
I'm
running
for
mayor.
To
give
you
a
little
background,
many
of
you
know
me
I,
see
a
lot
of
friends
out
here
and
it
kind
of
makes
this
a
little
bit
easier.
I've
condensed
my
introduction
from
17
minutes,
probably
to
about
45
seconds
so
I'll
be
real
quick.
B
B
I've
been
living
here
since,
let's
say
1
to
19,
I
moved
away
for
about
10
years
and
I've
been
back
for
the
last
10
right
here
on
the
Walton
Street
I've
been
on
the
Planning
Commission
for
the
city
of
Monroe
for
the
last
6
or
7
years,
and
that
has
been
the
capacity
of
which
I've
been
chosen
to
serve
now
the
10
years
that
I
was
gone.
I
was
with
a
community
development
called
Lakewood
Ranch.
It's
a
master
plan
community
on
the
Sarasota
Manatee
County
Line
in
Florida.
B
It's
right
a
quarter
mile
to
the
to
the
east
of
I-75.
It
remains
about
three
and
a
half
miles
in
one
direction:
six
miles
south
and
three
and
a
half
miles
further
in
that
direction
as
well.
So
it
encompasses
about
28,000,
total
acres
from
the
time
that
I
was
there.
We
went
from
50
homes
to
2000.
We
brought
in
two
Publix
grocery
stores.
We
brought
in
two
Arnold
Palmer
designed
golf
courses.
We
had
a
downtown
development,
we
had
an
industrial
development
in
a
light
industrial
development.
My
job
has
been
to
build
community.
B
So
when
it
comes
to
experience,
there's
nobody
there's
nobody
up
here.
Who
can
compare
the
total
experience
that
I've
got
community
working
with
huge
budgets
is
quite
a
bit
more
daunting
than
within
what
we're
dealing
with
here.
However,
I'm
here
to
serve
you
I'm
here,
because
I
love
this
town
I'm
here,
because
I
want
to
see
this
town,
succeed
and
I
want
to
see
this
town
succeed,
not
only
for
me
but
for
you,
but
for
all
of
our
children.
We
have
our
work
cut
out
for
us.
B
We
have
an
issue
that
that's
really
facing
us
right
now:
its
traffic
and
congestion.
We
are
not
working
with
our
County
leaders
for
anything,
there's
no
communication
there
and
I
think
we
really
should,
because
together
everyone
achieves
more
that's
what
teamwork
is
and
you
put
our
County
our
city,
our
state,
together
with
our
Department
of
Transportation
and
we're
gonna,
get
some
stuff
done
again.
I'm
John,
Howard
I
appreciate
your
coming
tonight,
I'm
running
for
mayor.
Thank
you.
C
C
Our
library
is
vital
to
our
community
and
helping
people
come
in
and
apply
for
jobs,
so
I've
been
a
large
part
of
the
library,
so
I
feel,
like
I've,
been
a
large
part
of
the
community
since
I've
moved
here,
I've
also
owned.
Two
small
businesses
I
now
currently
own
a
brokerage
in
a
building
that
we've
rehabbed
downtown
Monroe.
We
use
a
downtown
development
revolving
loan
fund
that
we
worked
with
the
city
with
Greg
with
the
city
and
with
the
state
to
obtain
that
loan
and
to
rehab
the
building
that
my
current
business
is
in.
C
C
So
again,
I
can't
think
of
all
the
things
that
I'm
totally
involved
in,
but
I
have
been
natsound
since,
since
we
moved
here,
it's
meant
a
lot
to
me.
The
people
of
this
town
mean
a
lot
to
me.
I've
appreciated
how
welcomed
I've
been
in
this
town
and
want
to
continue
to
see
this
town
thrive
and
move
forward.
So
again,
I'm
Sandra
Shirley
running
for
mayor
and
would
love
to
have
your
support
and
thank
you
all
again
for
coming.
D
D
Renee
and
I
have
one
son
Michael
who's
26,
who
lives
in
Milledgeville
Georgia
I'm,
a
member
of
the
First
Baptist
Church
for
singing
830
praise
band
service,
sit
on
the
Walton
County
Board
of
Health,
which
I'm
the
vice
chair
of
I,
also
served
as
a
chairman
of
the
board
of
the
municipal
electric
Authority
of
Georgia,
where
city
of
Monroe
gets
their
electricity
from
I
own
John's
supermarket,
which
is
a
downtown
business.
It's
been
in
business
for
52
years
and
I've
owned
it
for
27
years.
D
I've
served
the
city
for
18
years
in
two
different
capacities:
I've
served
six
years
on
city
council
and
have
also
served
12
years
as
mayor.
My
first
campaign
promise
when
I
was
elected.
My
first
year
was
to
keep
our
downtown
strong
and
keep
it
alive.
So
many
small
towns
kind
of
dried
up
when
you
have
the
big
box
stores
move
on
the
outside.
D
So
we
can
rehab
our
sewer
and
we
rehab
our
water
systems
and
other
projects,
and
also
for
the
last
four
years
we've
been
able
to
roll
back
our
millage
rate,
which
keeps
our
property
taxes
low,
which
tells
me
that
our
city
is
growing.
You
know
we
went
through
a
downturn
about
nine
years
ago
and
now
we're
seeing
the
ground
work
that
we
worked
on
nine
years
ago,
starting
to
come
to
fruition,
got
a
couple
of
projects
coming
up
that
we're
proud
of.
D
We
have
our
truck
bypass,
which
land
acquisition
starts
the
end
of
this
year
through
eighteen
and
then
then
the
construction
actually
will
start
2019
2020
also
coming
to
the
council
within
the
next
six
months.
We
have
three
huge
residential
projects.
Coming
that'll
bring
us
about
five
hundred
new
homes
in
the
city
of
Monroe,
which
will
then
get
us
our
big
grocery
store
that
we've
been
fighting
for
for
about
four
years,
but
we
just
hadn't
hadn't
had
the
residents
in
here
in
the
type
houses
that
we
need.
D
E
You
miss
Shanahan
good
evening,
everyone,
my
name
is
Ross
Bradley
I
am
running
for
district
3,
City
Council,
while
I
was
not
born
and
raised
here
in
Monroe
I
did
spend
the
better
half
of
my
adolescence,
going
to
George
Walton
Academy
upon
graduation
moved
out
to
the
University
of
Mississippi,
where
I
finished
up
with
a
degree
in
business
management
met,
my
lovely
wife,
Hollis,
and
once
we
graduated
knew
that
we
needed
to
find
somewhere
to
raise
a
family.
I
chose
to
move
back
here
to
Monroe.
E
It
holds
all
the
qualities
that
we
were
looking
for
in
a
small
downtown,
both
being
from
small
downtown's
ourselves
since
being
back
in
town,
my
business
partner,
Andrew
and
I
have
opened
up
to
your
PI
franchises
that
are
some
of
the
top
stores
in
the
nation.
The
reason
why
I've
got
there
is
because
of
the
way
our
parents
raised
us
with
fenomena
leadership
skills
and
just
with
a
heart
for
people.
F
Evening,
everyone,
my
name,
is
Adrian
Brown
and
I
am
running
for
Monroe
City
Council
District
three
I
was
not
born
and
raised
in
Monroe
I
was
born
and
raised
in
Vicksburg
Mississippi,
which
is
a
very
small
town
outside
of
I-20
in
Mississippi
right
before
you
pass
into
Louisiana,
so
I'm
used
to
being
in
a
small
town,
I
love,
Monroe
I,
moved
here
in
2009
and
started
actually
really
loving.
This
particular
City.
It
embraced
me.
F
The
people
here
embraced
me
and
I
actually
love
it,
because
I've
been
doing
a
lot
of
community
work
and
a
commune
of
community
activism
in
this
town,
I've
decided
to
run
for
City
Council
and
bring
my
skills
to
the
council.
I've
worked
in
the
mortgage
industry
for
the
past
15
years
and
I
had
a
vast
knowledge
of
budgeting
and
finance.
I
assisted
a
lot
of
people
with
home
ownership
and
during
the
downturn
I
was
able
to
assist
a
lot
of
people
with
actually
saving
their
homes.
So
I
did
fight
against
unlawful
foreclosures
in
Atlanta.
F
I
picketed
almost
went
to
jail
a
couple
of
times
doing
that
and
so
I'm
really
a
community
activist
I
wrote
a
lot
of
articles
about
the
foreclosures
I've
done
a
lot
of
media
coverage.
I
worked
for
W
X
AG
radio
station
in
Athens
for
a
couple
of
years,
where
I
did
a
community
program
and
it
was
based
on
community
and
empowerment.
So
I
was
able
to
reach
a
lot
of
people
there
and
talk
to
them
about
homeownership
how
to
survive
out
of
poverty
and
tackle
some
of
the
problems
that
they
have.
F
There
I
came
to
Monroe
fleeing
from
domestic
violence
in
Stone,
Mountain
and
I
found
a
safe
haven
here.
So
therefore,
I
reached
out
to
other
young
women
that
were
victims
of
domestic
violence
and
started
working
for
shelter,
taught
them
how
to
actually
transition
back
into
society
as
far
as
home,
ownership
being
able
to
budget
parenting,
skills,
life
skills
and
different
things
like
that
to
get
themselves
together.
F
Currently
I
work
for
live
forward.
We
are
a
we're,
a
nonprofit
agency
that
supplies
counseling
and
housing
to
those
that
are
infected
or
affected
with
HIV
and
AIDS.
I
took
the
organization
from
a
$300,000
budget
to
a
1.4
million
dollar
budget
in
less
than
two
years.
I
feel
like
I,
have
the
skills
and
the
qualifications
in
order
to
make
this
city
great
and
to
bring
some
things
here
and
I
look
forward
to
serving
you
and.
G
A
H
G
G
People
have
asked
me
well
gee
David
at
this
point.
Why
do
you
want
to
go
back
into
politics?
Why
do
you
want
to
do
this
and
I
want
to
tell
you
something
very
deep
and
personal
about
that?
There
are
three
things
that
are
very
fundamentally
important
to
me.
The
first
is
faith.
The
second
is
family.
The
third
is
my
friends
in
this
community,
and
my
faith
informs
me
that
it's
not
enough
to
be
a
believer.
If
you're
going
to
be
a
follower,
you've
got
to
be
a
disciple.
G
That
means
you
have
to
go
out
and
you
have
to
help
other
people
and
you
have
to
make
the
world
a
better
place
playing
inside.
My
family
I
want
to
see
my
grandchildren
grow
up
in
this
community
and
achieve
everything
that
they're
capable
of
achieving
the
same
as
I
want
that
for
every
child
in
this
community.
G
Someone
said
earlier,
I
think
Roz
talking
about
the
Boys
and
Girls
Club
I
was
one
of
the
founding
members
of
that
organization
in
this
city.
I
believe
deeply
in
children
I
believe
deeply
in
helping
a
community
when
I
was
mayor
here
several
years
ago,
we
put
in
place
a
lot
of
the
things
that
you're
just
now
seeing
coming
to
fruition.
I
wish
I
had
15
or
20
minutes
to
talk
to
you
about
this
I.
Don't
so
I
hope
we
get
some
good
questions.
I
appreciate
everybody
in
here.
G
I
You
good
evening
my
name
is
Jimmy.
Richardson
I
was
born
and
raised
here
in
Monroe
plan
on
retiring
here.
Mary
got
three
children.
I've
raised
a
family
here
worked
here,
graduated
from
Monroe
area
high
school
went
to
the
University
of
Georgia
majored
in
business
management.
Graduated
from
University
of
Georgia
I
know
most
of
the
people
in
this
room.
You
know
and
I
grew
up
here.
I
This
is
a
wonderful
place
to
raise
a
family
and
I'd
like
to
see
it
continue
being
a
wonderful
place
to
raise
a
family
I've
had
dealings
with
most
people
in
this
room.
My
family
still
works
here.
My
wife
works
at
Carmichael's
out
here
with
one
day
my
sister
Donna
Buckner
she's
sitting
in
the
audience.
I
You
know
I
appreciate
the
County
Kevin
little
in
Kirkland
Dixon
being
here,
because
we've
got
a
working
relationship
with
the
county
that
we're
working
hard
with
and
we're
working
hard
on
getting
the
grocery
store.
I
work
for
a
winn-dixie
in
in
Monroe
for
27
years.
I
was
a
store
manager
here,
so
we'd
love
to
have
a
grocery
store.
You
know
I
want
to
see
the
right
growth
I
want
to
keep
the
traffic
under
control.
I
We
talked
about
traffic,
we
talked
about
housing,
you
know
we're
working
on
housing
having
the
right
kind
of
housing,
and
so
you
know
I'd
appreciate
your
support.
Getting
reelected.
My
door
is
always
open.
My
cell
phones
always
on
you
know.
If
you
have
a
question
for
me,
you
know
call
me
anytime
and
I
appreciate
your
support.
Thank
you.
A
Thank
you
all
for
your
introductions,
we'll
now
move
to
the
questions.
At
this
time
there
were
13
questions
submitted.
I
will
draw
a
question
from
eat
from
the
basket
and
ask
you
to
answer
the
questions
in
the
same
order
as
your
introductions
and
then
the
person
answering
the
first
question
will
rotate
so
the
first
question:
John
Howard,
will
answer
the
second
question.
Sandra
sterling
will
answer
and
then
the
third
question
Greg
Thompson,
will
answer
first
and
so
on.
There
will
be
a
total
of
seven
questions.
A
A
B
You
so
much
for
your
question
and
thank
you.
I
I
was
taught
that
I'm
always
supposed
to
stand
when
speaking
to
an
audience,
but
I
was
also
told
that
I
needed
to
use
this
getting
as
close
as
I
could
I
appreciate
you
getting
that
David
I
expect
houses
and
businesses
to
go.
I'm.
Sorry,
could
you
repeat
it
please.
A
B
C
Okay,
well,
I
would
like
to
I've
heard
out
talking
with
people
as
I've
been
campaigning
and
talking
with
all
the
community
that
we
would
really
like
to
see
some
of
our
buildings
that
have
been
left
abandoned,
repurposed
into
housing
into
housing
for
our
younger
set
of
people
who
do
who,
in
the
20s
and
30
year
old
range
that
want
to
live
and
work
here.
I'm
a
real
estate
agent
I
see
a
lot
of
people
that
work
in
Monroe
these
young
kids.
C
A
C
Again,
as
far
as
industry
in
the
city,
bringing
in
and
repurposing
our
buildings
that
we
currently
have,
we
have
a
lot
of
vacant
properties
in
this
town
and
I
would
like
to
see
those
utilized
and
repurposed
before
we
start
rebuilding.
But
the
things
that
we
can
rebuild
right
now
are
some
of
the
dilapidated
housing
and
get
people
interested
in
it.
Thank
you
very
much.
D
Our
city
has
a
zoning
plan
and
it
was
put
together
by
mayor
and
council
a
long
time
ago.
We
do
have
times
that
we
rezone
different
parts
of
the
city,
but
the
plan
for
the
city
is
already
in
place,
so
we
have
an
industrial
park
for
our
commercial
businesses
to
come
in.
We
have
a
downtown
corridor
and
we
have
residential.
We
have
residential
that
can
be
apartment
buildings
and
we
have
residential
for
single-family
houses.
So
the
plan
for
the
city
is
pretty
much
already
set.
D
E
Some
of
the
things
that
the
families
are
looking
for
nowadays,
I
do
like
the
idea
of
leaving
big
industry
on
the
outside
of
town,
which
is
why
I
think
we
have
the
the
business
parts
already
set
up
doing
everything
we
can
to
make
this
a
destination
center
for
people
to
live
and
to
grow
and
and
to
do
life
together.
So
thank
you.
F
I
would
like
to
see
more
single-family
housing
in
this
area.
We
have
a
lot
of
apartment
complexes,
low
income,
housing,
which
is
great,
but
we
also
need
more
single-family
homes.
We
cannot
expect
any
other
businesses,
restaurants
or
anything
any
grocery
store
to
come
here
unless
we
are
able
to
show
that
we
are
a
viable
community
and
we
have
home
owners
in
this
town.
G
Like
mayor
Thompson
said,
we
already
have
a
zoning
plan
in
place.
What
we're
missing
is
we're
not
getting
that
we
need
that
corresponds
with
that
mouth
back
when
I
was
mayor,
I
think
I
was
kind
of
the
king
of
annexation,
and
one
of
the
things
I
tried
to
do
was
bring
in
some
of
these
vacant
areas,
on
the
outskirts
of
town,
to
use
them
for
industry
and
for
big-box
kinds
of
retailers
that
industrial
park
out
there.
G
I'm
78
was
an
extend
when
I
was
mayor,
except
one
came
in
while
I
was
mayor,
so
we've
got
to
have
an
emphasis
on
bringing
in
more
industry,
because
you
cannot
run
the
kind
of
city
we
want
on
top
of
a
purely
residential
rooftop
tax
base
and
63%
of
every
dollar.
This
city
takes
in
in
its
general
fund,
comes
off
of
property
taxes
in
terms
of
housing.
G
I
I
A
C
The
only
capacity
that
I
have
served
in
is
being
elected
by
our
city
in
two
different
positions.
I
was
elected
by
our
city
and
appointed
to
fire.
City,
sorry
into
the
library
board
position,
as
well
as
I've,
been
appointed
by
the
county
into
a
County
serving
position
on
that
same
board.
I
chose
to
I've,
always
talked
about
running
for
a
council
seat,
but
I
worked
for
Delta
Airlines
and
it
did
was
not
conducive
to
a
flight
attendants
schedule
to
actually
run
for
Council.
C
So
then,
I
like
talked
a
lot
with
another
current
or
both
council
member
here
about
wanting
to
run,
and
it
just
wasn't
the
right
time.
My
kids
were
small
I've
given
of
myself
freely
and
my
time
freely
to
this
community
on
all
capacities
and
boards
and
serving,
and
it
just
became
the
right
time.
My
children
are
of
the
right
age
now
and
it
was
the
right
time
to
go
ahead
and
run
and
help
try
to
make
a
difference
in
this
community.
So
no
I
have
not
served
before,
but
I
am
looking
forward
to
serving
now.
C
D
D
It's
hard
work
to
get
folks
convinced
to
vote
for
you
to
convince
them
that
you
can
do
the
job,
but
I've
proven
over
the
last
18
years.
That
I
can
do
the
job
here
in
the
city
of
Monroe.
So
it's
it's
not
a
fun
thing
to
do,
but
it
is
a
fun
thing
to
do.
Meeting
people
and
talking
about
the
city
is
a
great
thing
to
do
the
legwork
of
trying
to
get
around
everybody's
houses,
or
you
know
that
that's
an
exercise,
that's
trying
to
run
a
business
and
the
city
it's
difficult.
D
E
Have
never
ran
or
worked
for
a
city
government,
but
it
is
something
that
I
have
as
always
intrigued
me
something
I'm
extremely
excited
about.
We
had
a
great
City
Councilman
for
district
3
and
I'm,
looking
forward
to
hopefully
filling
his
seat
and
carrying
on
some
the
good
things
that
he
had
accomplished
here
in
the
city.
E
There's
something
about
the
challenge,
there's
something
about
working
with
the
people
and
for
the
people
that
I
really
enjoy.
That's
one
of
the
reasons
why
I've
got
into
the
restaurant
business
and
stayed
in
the
restaurant
business
I
know
that
the
leadership
qualities
I've
developed
over
time
are
something
that
I
can
really
utilize
here
at
the
City
Council
level.
So
that
would
be
my
main
reason
for
seeking
this
seat,
trying
to
do
a
little
good,
I.
F
Have
never
worked
in
government,
but
I've
volunteered
a
lot
at
the
State
Capitol
I've
worked
with
a
lot
of
elected
officials
and
I
was
recently
endorsed
by
Michael
Thurmond,
who
I've
actually
worked
with
and
for
in
the
past.
So
I
look
forward
to
bringing
some
of
my
for
profit
and
nonprofit
experience
to
the
council.
I
Thank
you,
I
love,
helping
people
talking
to
people
12
years
ago,
I
was
asked
by
a
council
person.
Why
don't
you
run
for
City,
Council
I
said
I,
don't
want
to
get
politics,
he
said
well,
you
were
born
here
you're
raised
here.
You've
got
to
retire
here.
Why?
Don't
you
get
popped
and
I
said
well,
I'll,
try
and
see
what
happens
if
the
people
want
me
they'll
elect
me
and
I
got
elected
the
guy
that
I
ran
against
had
been
on
the
council
18
years
and
I
won
second
term
around.
I
He
ran
against
me,
I
won
again
so
I've
been
on
the
council
12
times
the
web
years.
Here's
me
and
I
love
helping
people
I
did
that
winn-dixie
customer
service?
You
don't
do
this
job
for
the
money,
you
do
it
for
the
service,
helping
people
I
mean
when
I've
been
knocking
on
houses
this
last
month.
Several
weeks
you
know
the
hardest
part.
Is
you
want
to
sit
there
and
talk
to
people
and
listen
and
that's
what
I
love
to
do
sitting
in
listening
and
see
what
I
can
do
to
help
people?
Thank
you.
B
A
H
B
I've
had
several
candidates
say
a
lot
of
the
things
that
I
have
written
down,
although
my
penmanship
is
very,
very
poor,
David
open
with.
Why
don't
we
do
this?
To
make
the
world
a
better
place
in
the
middle
Jimmy
said.
Why
do
we
do
this
to
serve
others
to
serve
the
people?
We
love
the
reasons
we're
here,
and
the
reason
we
grew
up
here
is
because
our
parents
love
this
place.
We
love
when
our
children
love
it
as
we
grow.
B
B
So
I
was
one
of
37
people
to
interview
for
the
job
at
Lakewood.
Ranch
is
the
community
manager
down
there
got
that
job
apparently
did
well
last
six
and
a
half
years
moved
back
here,
because
we
wanted
my
daughter's
close
to
their
grandparents
two
weeks
from
Conyers,
so
the
granddaughters
are
definitely
closer
to
them
too.
B
Next
Boys
and
Girls
Club
was
on
that
board
for
seven
and
a
half
years
at
Rockdale
County
at
Barksdale,
and
now
why
am
I
here?
Because
I
want
to
serve
you?
My
door
is
always
open.
It
spent
a
lot
of
time
at
chick-fil-a.
Cotton
cafe
anytime.
We
want
to
come
see
me.
You
can
find
me
at
the
restaurants
or
establishments.
That's
why
this
suit
doesn't
fit
so
well.
George.
Okay,
thank
you.
H
A
You
knowledgeable
about:
are
you
knowledgeable
of
the
different
funding
sources
that
are
available
to
communities
that
are
in
need
of
neighbor,
neighborhood,
revitalization,
economic
development
and
affordable
housing
development?
If
yes
provide
an
example
and
if
elected
will
you
pursue
these
funds
to
address
needs
in
the
city
of
Monroe.
H
D
D
E
Am
not
100%
knowledgeable
of
all
the
opportunities
that
we
have
as
a
city
to
utilize
different
funds
come
from
outside
of
our
local
tax
base.
I
know
that
as
a
restaurant
owner
and
someone
looking
to
put
a
restaurant
here
in
downtown,
we
had
an
opportunity
to
partner
with
two
different
or
foundations
and
organizations
to
get
into
the
revolving
loan
fund.
E
It's
a
great
program,
something
that
we
were
able
to
benefit
from
I
look
forward
to
learning
about
different
opportunities
that
will
have
the
city
to
maybe
reach
outside
of
the
tax
base
and
find
some
incentives
for
not
only
businesses
to
come
here,
but
also
for
us
to
put
money
back
into
our
small
town
to
help
develop
infrastructure
whatever
it
may
be.
Thank
you.
F
Being
in
the
nonprofit
sector,
I
come
across
a
lot
of
people
that
have
grant-writing
experience
and
different
different
funds
available
for
cities
to
revitalize.
So,
therefore,
yes,
I,
do
have
experience
with
working
with
others
and
I've
also
worked
on
legislation
with
the
state
of
Georgia.
As
far
as
transportation
and
I
would
like
to
reach
out
to
some
of
my
resources
in
order
to
bring
that
funding
here
to
Monroe
for
some
local
transit.
G
H
G
G
G
Over
onto
me,
there
are
things
out
there
we
can
do,
but
we've
got
to
be
creative.
We've
got
to
use
things
like
Community
Land,
Trust
tax
allocation
districts
and
be
creative.
The
other
thing
the
city
of
Monroe
can
do.
Is
we
have
tremendous
bonding
capacity
in
the
city
of
Monroe?
We
have
a
total
capacity
of
about
38
million
dollars
and
about
36
million
of
that's
unused
right
now.
So
that's
another
good
way
to
generate.
G
I
You
I
just
want
to,
you
know,
reimburse
us
what
Mayor
Thompson
just
mentioned
about
what
we're
doing
or
grant
money
funds
I
mean.
We've
got
a
aggressive
program
going
on
for
grant
funding
for
streetscape
sidewalks.
We've
got
a
sidewalk
project
right
now
on
West
Spring
Street
that
we're
putting
in
place
I'm
on
the
I'm
chairman
of
the
Public
Safety
Committee.
We
just
got
a
huge
grant
over
here
in
the
fire
department
to
add
new
firemen
at
no
cost
to
the
taxpayers.
I
mean
that's
important.
I
We've
rolled
back
taxes
for
the
past
four
years
in
this
city,
so
we
didn't
have
to
raise
taxes.
You
know
as
special.
We
were
coming
out
of
the
recession,
so
I
mean
that
says
a
lot
on
what
we're
doing
with
grant
money.
We've
added
more
infrastructure
at
the
airport.
Recently
we
just
put
in
a
fuel
farm
to
bring
more
business
airplanes,
riding
the
Etheridge
standing
back
here
in
the
back
he's
on
the
airport
committee.
He
was
a
big
part
of
that.
Thank
you
writing.
I
B
Is
going
through
that
bond
process?
We
we
had
three
specific
community
development
districts
which
are
special
tax
allocation
districts
collected
by
the
taxing
authority.
Now
we
also
have
grants
that
we've
used,
for
instance,
the
sidewalks
on
South
Broad,
North,
Broad
I,
believe,
is
coming
before
Spring
Street,
correct.
B
I
know
him
pretty.
Well
too,
he
opened
his
coverage
as
much
as
I.
Did
we
made
sisters
so
learn
from
him
as
well.
The
types
of
money
that
we
can
have
brought
in
fight
through
taxes
can
really
help
build
our
Airport,
which
is
another
vital
economic
development
tool
for
our
area.
So
when
it
comes
to
things
like
taxes,
you
have
to
learn
that
if
you
pay
$5,000
in
property
taxes,
when
it's
collected
in
November
and
December.
C
C
Familiar
with
a
few
of
the
tacks
of
grants,
I'm
very
familiar
with
the
Downtown
Development
revolving
loan
fund-
I'm,
not
mistaken,
but
I-
think
I
was
one
of
the
first
ones
that
came
to
the
City
of
Monroe,
worked
with
Greg
and
David
on
that
one.
It's
a
ten-year
grant.
It's
a
ten
year,
downtown
development
revolving
loan.
It's
a
special
loan
through
the
state,
so
I
am
familiar
with
that
one,
as
well
as
all
the
grant.
Writing
that
we
do
for
the
library
again,
we
just
doubled
the
size
under
our
existing
roof.
C
We
double
the
size
of
the
library.
We
did
that
with
a
state
grant.
So
the
things
that
I've
learned
about
these
is
the
Downtown
Development
revolving
loan.
You've
got
to
have
a
lot
of
patience,
so
anytime,
you're
working
through
funding
from
another
organization
to
help
your
own
community
patience
is
essential
as
well
as
you
have
to
learn
a
lot,
and
you
have
to
be
willing
to
learn
a
lot.
I
tell
the
kids
all
the
time
when
I'm
out
in
the
schools
working
with
them,
there's
always
an
opportunity.
C
A
There
is
a
lack
of
recreational
activities
for
our
youth
year-round
other
than
the
activities
provided
by
the
County
Parks
and
Rec
Department.
There
is
a
gap
in
activities
for
our
youth,
especially
after
age
12.
How
will
you
address
bringing
more
activities
and
possible
staff
on
board
to
address
this
issue.
E
Thank
you,
recreational
activity,
I
said
that's
a
big
big
hot-button
issue
in
the
City
of
Monroe,
working
with
kids
on
a
weekly
monthly
basis
at
the
Boys
and
Girls
Club
I
understand
the
need,
having
younger
siblings
I,
to
understand
that
you
know
they
need
something
to
do
on
the
Friday
nights.
Two
Saturdays
I
know
that,
as
in
Covington,
there
is
a
young
man
who
is
working
on
his
Eagle
project.
Who's
talked
a
lot
about
a
splash
pad
that
is
his
project.
E
Raising
money
to
get
that
done
in
Covington,
I
think
that
that
is
also
something
that
we
could
do
here
in
the
city
also
different
community
activities,
basketball
tournaments,
all
that
good
stuff,
that
we
already
have
the
infrastructure
infrastructure
in
place
for
now.
But
for
me,
I
would
love
to
work
with
the
economic
development
to
continue
to
try
and
get
things
like
movie,
theaters
and
and
other
attractions
here
to
Monroe
aid,
to
give
the
parents
a
break
but
being
also
give
kids
opportunity
to
go
out
and
and
to
let
off
some
steam.
So
thank
you.
F
Yes,
we
do
have
a
lot
lack
of
recreation
for
our
kids.
A
lot
of
them
are
just
walking
up
and
down
the
street.
They
have
nothing
to
do
and
they
don't
have
transportation
to
get
to
different
places.
So,
yes,
I
would
like
to
see
more
recreation.
Come
to
this
area.
I've
thought
about
it.
A
lot
I've
done
a
lot
for
the
children
as
far
as
taking
them
out
of
town
to
other
places,
as
Athens
to
the
Botanical,
Gardens
and
different
things
like
that.
F
G
It's
not
an
easy
thing
to
do.
I
think
we're
doing
fairly
well
in
terms
of
the
organized
recreational
activities
the
city
long
ago,
partnered
with
the
county
to
provide
those
opportunities
for
kids
and
we've
got
a
lot
of
good
programs
out
there.
I
think
what
we're
missing
now
is
the
other
components
and
folks
have
talked
about
which
is
private
enterprise
things
for
children
to
go
to
the
theaters,
the
bowling
alleys,
those
kinds
of
things
and
I
think
that
needs
to
be.
I
Growing
up
in
Monroe
I
was
involved
in
sports.
We
had,
you
know,
Walton
County
sports.
We
had
recreation,
we
had
high
school
junior,
I
and
I
raise
kids
in
this
town
and
they
were
involved
in
sports,
but
you
know
it
all
starts
in
the
home.
With
the
parents
getting
parents
involved,
I
talked
to
high
school
teachers,
I
talked
to
coaches,
you
know,
and
the
parents
have
got
to
get
involved,
I
hear
it
every
day
out
there
campaigning.
You
know
the
parents
drop
their
kids
off
and
expect
the
coaches
to
babysit
them.
I
I
talked
to
high
school
teachers,
you
know
they
have
conferences
and
the
parents
don't
show
up
growing
up
in
this
town.
We've
we've
had
theatres,
we've
had
bowling
alleys,
we've
had,
you
know
all
different
types
of
recreation
and
it's
got
to
be
a
private
enterprise.
It's
not
something
the
city
you
know
can
do.
It's
got
to
kind
of
come
from
the
private
citizen,
I'd
love
to
see
someone
out
here
in
the
audience.
If
you
want
to
start
a
bowling
alley
or
a
movie
theater,
the
city
will
support
you,
I'm
behind
you
100%.
Thank
you.
B
Thank
you
for
that
that
question
partnerships
are
really
vital.
Success
of
our
community
Grace
Church
at
the
mill
is
very,
very
active
in
building
community
and
just
to
give
you
a
little
knowledge
apart,
they've
chosen
to
purchase
the
old
mill
on
any
school.
As
you
know,
that
has
a
large
field
behind
it,
they're
looking
at
building
that
into
an
empathy
etre
and
it
will
be
a
community
project,
they'll
use
it
for
community
events.
B
So
it's
a
public/private
entity
that
it's
working
with
those
in
the
community
and
I
think
that
we
should
encourage
a
focus
on
on
items
like
that.
Rather
than
expecting
the
city
to
be
100%
responsible
for
recreational
activities,
we
we
have
a
great
Parks
and
Rec
program
that
the
county
runs
for
us
on
some
of
the
fields
that
are
here.
We
have
lots
of
tournaments.
We
have
lots
Little
League
when
I
was
when
I
was
here
as
a
mineral
Packers.
E
C
Revitalizing,
our
parks
is
a
big
issue
and
it
is
on
my
push
card.
Those
of
you've
talked
to
me
it's
very,
very
dear
to
my
heart.
We
have
lovely
parks
here
that
are
city-owned.
We've
got
children's
park,
we
have
Matthews
Park.
We
need
to
see
those
parks
encouraged
and
revitalized
and
bring
new
activities
to
those
parks.
And
again
it's
not
just
the
responsibility
of
the
city
out
talking
with
people
today.
C
There's
a
group
that
does
the
golf
frisbee,
the
frisbee
golf
and
they
have
started
a
project
out
at
Matthews
Park
and
they
just
want
a
little
help,
bringing
that
as
a
bigger
sport.
So
I
see
things
as
pickleball
things
that
we
can
already
put
over
in
Hammond
Park
on
those
tennis
courts,
things
that
are
recreation
for
families
to
come,
do
together,
but
again
it's
not
just
on
the
burden
of
the
city.
It's
a
community
thing
as
well.
C
D
F
Okay,
my
position
on
Public
Safety
we've
had
a
lot
of
crime
that
has
come
into
our
community
lately
and
a
lot
of
it
has
been
coming
from
the
outside.
A
majority
of
this
crime
has
not
been
inside
Monroe
from
Monroe
residents.
Some
has,
but
some
has
not,
and
so
what
I
proposed?
Even
just
working
in
the
community
is
more
community
policing.
We
used
to
have
neighborhood
watches.
We
had
someone
that
actually
sat
there.
G
E
G
G
A
lot
of
criminal
conduct
you're
never
going
to
police
away
I
tell
you
that
I
tell
you
that,
as
an
ex
judge,
we've
got
to
work
with
folks
to
instill
values
all
across
the
board,
and
a
lot
of
this
does
start
in
the
home
and
setting
up
a
police
force
to
go.
Do
something
about
it.
After
it's
already
gotten
out
of
control,
that's
not
the
solution.
We
got
to
do
some
other
things
with
these
young
people
before
they
ever
get.
G
I
You
David
being
on
the
Public,
Safety,
Committee
and
being
public
chairman.
We
try
to
stay
ahead
of
the
curve.
We
implemented
body
cameras
with
all
the
publicity
that
we've
seen
with
police
officers.
The
body
cameras
protects
these
citizens
and
it
protects
the
police
officers
and
we've
done
that.
We're
trying
to
stay
in-
and
you
know,
as
Adrian
mentioned,
the
most
of
the
crime
is
coming
into
the
city.
They
think
Monroe
is
an
easy
town,
but
we
proved
it
proved
them
wrong
with
the
recent
drug.
I
Bust
you'll
never
saw
the
drug
issue,
but
we've
slowed
it
down
a
good
bit
in
fire
department.
We've
got
the
best
fire
department
anywhere
I,
think
and
we
continue
working
with
the
fire
department
with
hired
new
firemen
through
the
grants
and
at
no
cost
to
the
taxpayers.
So
we'll
continue,
but
it's
got
to
start
in
the
neighborhood
I
mean
you
got
to
have
neighborhood,
watches
I
know
in
my
neighborhood,
if
I'm
out
of
town,
my
neighbors
are
watching
my
house
they're
calling
9-1-1
if
they
see
something
suspicious
because
it
all
starts
in
your
neighborhood.
B
Thank
you.
It
goes
goes
without
saying
because
it's
been
said
a
number
of
times.
Our
firefighters
here
are
excellent
and
we
all
appreciate
the
hard
work
that
they
do.
I
had
a
meeting
last
week
with
our
sheriff
Walton
County
found
out
that
we
have
367
inmates
in
the
jail
he
wants.
A
new
jail
I
was
very
anti
new
jail.
I
said:
let's
just
ship
him
off
somewhere
and
when
it's
time
for
him
to
get
out,
let
him
out
he
said.
B
John
I
know
these
folks
have
not
even
gone
to
court
yet
so
we
have
367
inmates
in
our
jail
you
nemenyi,
Oconee
County
has
eight.
We
have
a
real
real
issue
with
our
low-income
housing.
We've
got
to
clean
that
up.
We
also
have
to
have
our
community.
Policing
is
an
outstanding
idea.
James
Vaughn
and
I
were
talking
last
week
as
well.
B
They
don't
trust
you
on
a
day-to-day
basis,
you
put
kind
of
buddy
with
them,
and
then
you
become
a
confidant
and
that
helps
us
build
our
community
safety
and
that's
what
we
need
to
address.
We
need
that
dire
need
to
address
that
public
safety
issue
on
the
front
end
rather
than
on
the
back
end.
Thank
you.
C
Well,
in
terms
of
our
fire
department,
I
have
had
the
misfortune
of
seeing
how
quickly
they
respond
to
my
house
when
they
responded
extremely
quickly
so
along
the
lines
of
our
fire
department.
I
think
that
they
do
a
really
good
job
when
it
goes
back
to
public
safety.
I
too
believe
that
we
need
to
bring
that
back
to
the
community,
and
that
also
starts
with
our
low-income
housing,
with
working
in
the
schools.
C
C
D
Definitely
agree
with
the
community
aspect
of
trying
to
help
your
neighbors,
unfortunately,
some
folks
just
love
to
get
in
trouble.
It
doesn't
matter
what
you
do
if
I
had
my
wish
list,
we've
got
one
of
the
best
public
safety
departments
in
this
state
when
I
go
off
to
GMA
and
to
the
mayor's
convention
and
talk
to
other
cities,
we're
very
fortunate
to
what
we
have
and
if
I
had
a
wish
list.
D
I
would
love
to
add
more
police
officers
to
our
Police
Department,
it's
hard
to
hire
a
good
police
officer
these
days
you
see
what
they
have
to
go
through
day
in
and
day
out,
being
cursed
at
and
abused.
You
can't
hire
the
wrong
police
police
officer,
or
else
your
city's
gonna
be
in
the
news
too,
and
you
notice
we
have
not
been
in
the
news.
I
want
to
keep
it
that
way.
D
E
Think
at
this
point,
I'll
echo,
a
lot
of
things
have
been
set
up
here,
start
the
fire
department.
We
do
have
a
very
effective
fire
department,
one
at
the
top
around
all
great
guys
and
women
and
men
I.
Think
too,
that
that
raising
the
quality
of
life
for
the
city
isn't
be
is
pretty
much
step
one.
It's
nothing
that
anyone's
saying
up
here
can
fix
through
a
police
department,
but
it
does
start
in
the
home.
E
It
starts
with
everybody,
inside
of
our
community,
getting
involved
with
local
organizations
that
do
partner
with
young
kids
to
help
them
develop
and
help
to
grow
and
their
values
and
become
what
to
be
good
for
the
city
and
and
want
to
love
it
as
much
as
we
all
do.
I
think
that
developing
a
workforce
community
is
something
that
will
also
help
giving
folks
something
to
want
to
achieve
in
life.
E
A
G
Would
be
a
shortest
answer
of
the
night
I
like
it
I
favor
it
and
I'll.
Do
everything
I
can
to
see
that
it
goes
forward?
That's
what
saves
small
towns
like
Monroe,
we're
past
a
world
where
you
have
a
big
urban
place
like
Atlanta,
then
you
have
suburbs,
and
then
you
have
areas
that
are
sort
of
halfway
in
between
we
used
to
call
them
exurbs.
So
now
what
people
are
looking
for
is
the
community
where
they
do
everything
within
a
small
area.
They
don't
have
to
get
in
their
car
to
go.
G
I
You,
as
I
mentioned
earlier
tonight,
live
work
and
play
you
want
to
live
where
you
can
work
in
play
in
downtown.
We've
got
lofts
that
are
full
there's.
No,
no
vacancy
people
like
to
live
in
downtown,
look
at
all
the
new
shops
that
have
come
in
and
that's
what
we're
looking
for.
You
know
a
lot
of
people.
You
know
talking
about
all
these
big
developments.
We've
got
everything
you
need
right
here
in
Monroe
to
live,
work
and
play.
B
That's
the
master
plan.
Community
concept-
just
live
here.
Work
here
play
here
been
doing
it
for
the
last
20
years.
What
we
have
in
Monroe
right
now
we
had
a
group
of
people
who
did
not
want
to
bypass
years
ago
so
that
continued
to
push
us
off.
Now
we
have
folks
driving
to
come
to
Monroe
at
the
story.
Shop.
The
Melvin
and
Melissa
music
had
put
together
with
scoops
ice
cream
with
cotton
cafe,
with
with
the
boot
store
with
peachy-keen.
B
B
That's
why
I
live
on
Wall,
Street,
I
love,
walking,
downtown.
You've,
probably
seen
me
walk
in
the
attack
dog,
my
eight
pound
Yorkie
food
I,
look
very
very
men
like
when
I've
got
him
on
the
leash,
but
since
he's
been
walking
with
me,
we
hadn't
crammed
on
my
street
anyway
again
live
here.
Work
here
play
here
and
I
hate
to
sound
like
just
saying
whatever
you
said,
but
that's
exactly
where
we
need
to
be.
C
C
The
grant
money
and
things
in
place
for
I
would
like
to
see
traffic
ease
up
a
little
bit
around
downtown
and
make
it
a
more
livable
walkable
place
where
you
could
actually
hear
the
person
next
to
you
talking
as
you
walk
downtown,
but
I
do
think
that
we're
in
the
right
going
the
right
direction
with
our
livable,
workable,
sustainable
area.
I
would
like
to
also
think
the
council
members
I
see
a
few
sitting
out
here
too
for
the
best
initiative.
C
That
they've
done
in
my
opinion,
is
the
golf
cart
initiative
and
allowing
us
to
ride
the
golf
carts
around
I
think
that's
a
great
step
forward
in
the
right
direction
to
have
this
concept
of
live
work
and
play
and
enjoy
your
city.
It's
really
neat
to
ride
around
on
a
golf
cart,
and
actually
you
get
a
new
perspective.
C
D
Like
the
livable
senators
initiative,
it
was
a
program
that
I
put
in
place
along
with
council,
believe
it
or
not.
The
first
project
that
we
applied
for
you
had
to
put
your
first
second
third
wants.
In
there
we
applied
for
North
Broad,
our
second
one
was
South
Broad,
North
Broad
got
turned
down
because
South
Broad
was
a
million
dollars
cheaper
to
do
so.
When
you
drive
down
South
Broad,
that's
kind
of
what
we're
looking
for
with
the
livable
sooners
initiative,
get
folks
out
of
the
cars
where
they
can
walk.
D
Since
that
projects
been
done
with
all
the
lighting
and
everything
first
thing:
I
noticed,
9:30
10
o'clock
at
night
folks
are
outside
walking
on
those
sidewalks
because
they
feel
safe.
It's
a
smooth
sidewalk
and
it
served
its
purpose.
So
that's
what
we're
trying
to
do
this?
The
second
phase
is
down
Spring
Street
and
then
our
third
phase
will
be
North.
Broad,
Street
and
you'll.
Have
a
city
that'll
be
you'll,
be
proud
to
drive
through
I.
E
See
would
agree
that
the
master
plan
that
the
city's
put
forward
is
a
phenomenal
I.
Think
that,
like
all
plans,
is
going
to
change
and
evolve
and
grow
I'm
looking
forward
to
the
opportunity
to
be
a
part
of
facilitating
this
plans,
completion
and
I'm
just
looking
forward
to
learning
more
about
it
and
to
grow
in
with
the
city
and
become
a
part
of
a
Volusia
ship.
F
I'm
excited
about
the
liveable
centers
initiative
and
the
way
that
I
would
like
to
implement.
It
would
be
to
look
at
some
of
the
abandoned
buildings,
some
of
the
abandoned
warehouses,
I've
seen
where
in
Athens
and
other
places
they've
taken.
These
warehouses
turn
them
into
livable
spaces
and
people
are
able
to
walk
to
and
from
downtown.
F
A
I
Like
I
mentioned
earlier,
I
work
for
winn-dixie
27
years,
I
started
with
him
when
I
was
16,
I'd
love
to
have
a
grocery
store
here
matter
of
fact,
I
just
talked
to
before
I
came
in
the
building,
I
talked
to
Lee
Ralph
and
it
Charlotte
Boulevard.
He
owns
the
land
out
there.
Kroger
is
still
on
the
drawing
board.
It's
you
know
he
said
he's
trying
every
day
to
get
it
going.
I
You
know
we
need
another
grocery
store,
I'm
all
for
it,
whatever
we
need
to
do
to
get
one,
but
when
a
grocery
store
comes
here
since
I
worked
in
a
grocery
store,
I
know
what
it
takes.
They
look
at
customer
count.
They
look
at
the
ability
to
service
the
store,
with
good
help
and
I
mean
I
was
out
campaigning
today
and
lady
says:
I
have
to
drive
to
Logan
the
other
Kroger
and
I'd
rather
I'd,
rather
stay
here.
Well,
I'd
love
for
her
to
pay
taxes
here
in
the
city.
I
I'd
love
for
that
to
have
a
Kroger
here
so
I'm
all
for
it.
Whatever
we
need
to
do,
you
know
if
I
need
to
promise
we'll
have
a
grocery
store
in
the
next
year.
You
know,
I
can
do
it,
but
I'm
not
in
a
position
where
I
like
to
make
promises
that
I
can't
keep
so
I'm
all
for
Kroger
Publix,
whatever
big
grocery
store,
but
I
can't
promise
that
I'm
going
to
produce
one
but
I'm
for.
B
B
Grocery
stores,
grocery
stores
look
at
income
and
rooftops
they.
They
really
want
to
see
us,
and
this
is
one
of
the
areas
we
struggled
with.
We
just
approved
a
hundred
thirty
unit
development
on
50
acres,
I'm,
sorry,
the
Planning
Commission
approved
a
130
unit,
a
130
unit
development
on
50.2
acres
on
Good,
Hope,
Road,
that's
been
tabled
by
the
council
actually
until
this
month
or
next.
But
by
doing
that,
the
thing
that
we
were
torn
about
was
we
need
those
rooftops
and
we
need
that
money.
They
came
in
and
told
us.
B
It
was
going
to
start
at
about
165
thousand
at
the
council
meeting
in
it.
They
had
up
to
that
295,000,
which
makes
us
all
feel
better
feel
better,
but
you
are
concerned
about
the
density
of
the
houses,
but
you
also
you
you
need
to
have
the
rooftops
and
you
need
to
have
the
income
and
you
need
to
have
those
higher
priced
homes
in
order
for
a
grocery
store
to
come.
We
chose
yes,
because
we
need
the
stores
that
bad
the
the
larger
developments
is.
B
C
Well,
I
have
to
agree
with
everybody.
Yes,
we
do
want
to
see
a
grocery
store
any
of
the
larger
chain.
Grocery
stores
come
into
our
community.
That
is
also
going
to
take
bringing
up
our
income
levels.
Kroger
is
on
the
table
still
talking,
but
we
do
need
to
show
that
we
have
a
viable
workforce
to
bring
in
any
other
industry,
including
a
grocery
store.
We've
got
to
have
a
lower.
C
Occupant,
a
lower
level
of
our
unemployment.
We've
got
to
get
our
work
current
people
here
into
our
workforce
into
the
jobs
that
we
currently
have.
Once
we
have
people
into
the
jobs
that
are
currently
here
in
Monroe,
then
we'll
see
the
income
levels
raise
and
the
grocery
stores
will
see
that
we
do
have
the
clientele
to
come
in
and
spend
money
in
their
store.
C
We
don't
want
our
tax
dollars
going
to
Barrow
County
and
we
don't
want
our
tax
dollars
going
to
the
city
of
loganville,
even
though
it
is
still
Walton
County,
but
we
fix
that
ground
with
grassroots
by
getting
people
into
jobs,
having
incomes
and
making
them
viable
citizens
that
go
to
grocery
stores
and
spend
their
money
and
showing
the
grocery
store
that
we
have
that.
Thank
you.
D
This
is
a
loaded
question,
but
I'm
glad
it
was
asked
now.
Let's
just
dispel
the
rumors
right
now.
I
have
never,
nor
will
I
ever
try
to
keep
a
grocery
store
out
of
the
city
of
Monroe.
As
a
matter
of
fact,
we
voted
when
so
Fran
came
to
the
city.
We
voted
to
give
them
a
million
dollar
electric
package,
so
they
wouldn't
have
to
spend
that
million
dollars.
We
worked
with
Kevin
in
the
county
to
give
a
tax
abatement
for
Kroger.
We
have
we
passed
it,
they
passed
it
problem.
D
Is
they
wanted
another
million
and
a
half
dollars
that
would
come
out
of
taxpayers
pockets
and
that
was
too
rich.
We're
still
waiting
on
those
houses
to
get
developed.
We're
two
to
three
years
out:
I
met
with
a
nother
developer.
That
wants
to
bring
the
same
thing
in
and
his
exact
words
were
your
two
to
three
years
out
before
you're,
going
to
get
that
grocery
store,
we're
going
to
get
it
folks
we're
going
to
get
it,
we're
just
growing
in
fact
going
to
grow
in
slow,
but
we're
getting
the
right
growth
now.
D
E
The
simple
answer
is:
yes:
I
live
right
here
in
town
I
shop,
with
the
two
awesome
local
grocery
stores
that
we
have
now
I,
wouldn't
mind
a
third
option
for
some
more
exotic
things,
but
like
Greg
was
saying
you
know
it's
going
to
come
so,
yes,
I'm
willing
to
do
everything.
I
can
to
lay
the
groundwork
now
with
housing,
with
filling
current
jobs
that
we
have
in
order
to
make
it
a
little
bit
more
enticing
for
big-box
store
to
come
in.
F
Yes,
I
would
like
to
see
better
options
for
grocery
stores
coming
to
this
area.
But
again
it
goes
back
to
what
we've
talked
about
before.
Is
that
a
lot
of
businesses
look
at
rooftops
when
they're
coming
to
a
town
and
when
I
say
rooftops,
they're
looking
at
homes,
home
ownership,
they're,
not
looking
at
apartments,
because
people
and
apartments
move
so
therefore
they
want
something:
that's
sustainable
in
order
to
grow
their
business.
F
G
Well,
I'm
getting
kind
of
impatient
about
the
grocery
store.
To
give
you
a
little
history,
we
were
talking
to
Kroger
back
when
I
was
mayor
almost
20
years
ago
about
building
an
end
island
Kroger
and
the
only
reason
that
didn't
happen
is
the
landowner
was
trying
to
get
too
much
money
for
the
tract
and
it
had
some
potential
environmental
issues.
So
here
we
are
almost
20
years
later
and
everybody's
saying:
well,
it's
coming
next
year,
two
years
or
five
years,
it's
sort
of
like
getting
rid
of
the
dilapidated
housing.
G
We
were
having
that
discussion
when
I
was
mayor,
and
if
you
look
at
my
literature,
there
are
two
things:
I've
grown
very
impatient
with
I
will
bring
you
that
grocery
store
and
if
I,
don't.
If
you
elect
me
and
I,
don't
bring
it,
throw
me
out,
that's
how
I'd
all
to
work,
but
it
shouldn't
take
forever
to
do
it
and
the
same
thing
with
improving
the
houses.
We
don't
have
another
25
years
to
wait.
We've
done
some
things,
but
we
can
do
a
whole
lot
more
and
it
takes
somebody.
A
I
Just
want
to
thank
everybody
for
coming
tonight
and
thank
the
chamber
Walton
County
chamber,
for
having
this
event.
It's
always
good
to
you,
know,
get
up
and
talk
to
the
public.
In
you
know,
I
was
born
in
this
town
gonna
retire
here.
If
the
voters
want
to
keep
me
in
this
position,
I'd
love
to
stay
in
this
position,
because
I
love
working
with
people,
I
love
talking
to
people
I
know
most
of
the
people
in
this
room.
I've
met
you
I've
worked
with
you
and
I'd
like
to
continue
working
with
you.
I
My
door
is
always
open.
I'm
experienced,
dedicated
I
got
an
open
door
policy
and
you
can
call
me
anytime
I'll
come
to
you
you
just
let
me
know
what
time
when
and
where
and
I'd
love
to
continue
working
with
you
in
the
future
and
I
appreciate
your
support
in
your
vote
on
Tuesday
November.
The
7th
early
voting
has
already
started.
If
you
want
to
vote,
you
can
go
over
to
the
government
center
off
hammond
drive
started
today.
I
think
it
runs
through
November
3rd
and
the
general
election
will
be
November.
G
G
Appreciate
all
I
could
coming
out
tonight.
One
of
the
problems
that
we
have
in
this
city
is
generally
speaking
in
municipal
elections.
The
turnouts
pretty
load
and
people
need
to
get
involved,
and
if
you
don't
do
anything
else,
please
go
vote.
You
don't
vote
for
me.
Vote
for
Jimmy
I
vote
for
but
go
vote
is
your
god-given
right.
Is
your
god-given
obligation
and
I
sort
of
reached?
The
point
live
where
you
know
I
don't
want
anything
to
prove
to
anybody.
G
I
just
want
to
help
make
this
community
a
better
place
and
sometimes
I
guess
I
can
be
a
little
fired
up
and
little
combative
about
stuff.
But
that's
just
my
nature.
I'm
one
of
those
folks
I
grew
up
with
nothing
and
everything.
I've
got
I
worked
for
and
fought
for.
My
daddy
had
an
eighth-grade
education
and
that's
why
I'm
so
about
education
and
bettering
oneself
and
fighting
for
what
you
believe
in
and
I've
said
to
a
number
of
people.
G
I'm
a
runner
I
run
all
distances,
but
I
do
a
lot
of
half
marathons
and
marathons.
One
of
the
things
you
run
into
when
you're
running
a
marathon.
Is
you
go
out
there
about
22
miles
and
you're
about
to
die,
and
you
just
want
to
give
up.
I
got
two
rules
when
I'm
running
and
in
life
number
one
rule
you
never
give
up.
You
never
quit
number
two
rule.
G
F
When
I
first
decided
to
run
for
City,
Council
I
spoke
with
my
husband
he's
here,
recalled
O'brien
from
he's
from
Kingston,
Jamaica
and
I
said
I
think
I
want
to
run
for
City
Council
and
it
was
like
okay.
Well,
that's
fine!
If
that's
what
you
want
to
do,
you've
been
working
in
the
community.
You
know
forever
anyway,
when
I
first
met
you.
This
is
what
you
were
doing
this
being
on.
F
The
council
would
be
nothing
different
from
what
I
do
every
day,
just
about
I'm,
always
in
the
community,
I've
always
been
working
with
others,
I've
always
been
helping.
Everyone
knows
me
for
this.
I've
done!
Stop
the
violence
event
here
when
someone
was
murdered,
I've
done
back-to-school
campaigns,
I've
again,
I
go
to
the
Capitol
two
or
three
times
a
year
to
see.
What's
going
on,
I've
worked
with
elected
officials.
I
have
the
experience
and
I
think
that
I
can
bring
some
fresh
new
ideas
to
the
board.
F
I
am
asking
for
your
vote
and
for
you
to
give
me
a
chance
in
order
to
show
you
what
we
can
do
in
this
city.
Working
together,
I,
just
I,
am
a
member
of
New
Beginnings
Bible
Church
right
here
in
Monroe.
Pastor
is
Nathan
Durham
and
we
do
a
lot
in
the
community
as
well.
But
again,
as
Jimmy
said,
early
voting
started,
October
16,
please
get
out
and
vote.
If
you
don't
want
to
vote
for
me,
vote
for
Ross,
but
please
vote
for
me.
H
H
E
You
over
this
opportunity
to
be
up
here,
like
I,
said
earlier:
I'm
good
at
three
things
right
now
at
this
point
in
my
life
and
that's
listening,
learning
and
doing
I'm,
not
the
most
eloquent
when
it
comes
to
speaking
into
a
microphone.
So
I
have
listened
to
myself
and
learned
from
that
tonight.
But
I
am
looking
forward
to
the
opportunity
to
to
be
a
representative
not
only
in
district
3
but
for
the
city.
I'm
excited
to
work
with
the
current
council,
and
then
whoever
does
win
this
election
cycle.
E
D
D
I've
got
two
fine
people
running
against
me,
but
unfortunately
they
have
no
experiences
being
elected
in
trying
to
deal
with
the
problems
that
you
deal
with
from
a
citizen
and
on
this
side
of
town
or
a
citizen
on
that
side
of
town
and
trying
to
please
everyone
and
trying
to
make
that
project
fit
into
the
puzzle
to
take
care
of
most
of
the
people
in
the
city.
I
started
on
city
council
for
six
years,
which
gave
me
the
opportunity
to
learn
how
to
do
a
lot
of
this
stuff.
D
So
when
I
was
elected
mayor
we
didn't
go
backwards
and
then
forward
during
my
learning
process
it
was
still
learning
process
being
on
the
city
council
and
then
moving
to
the
mayor,
because
there's
so
much
responsibility
and
you're
responsible
for
a
lot
of
things
in
this
city.
I
appreciate
these
guys
wanting
to
run
and
I
hope
they
continue
to
be
involved
in
the
city,
win,
lose
or
draw
they
find
folks,
but
I
don't
think
at
this
time.
D
It's
time
to
take
that
step
back
when
we're
fixing
to
get
into
a
lot
of
things,
and
we
need
to
have
the
knowledge
and
we
need
to
have
the
fun
didn't
know
how
to
do
this
stuff
to
move
our
city
forward.
So
I
asked
for
your
vote,
starting
now
until
November
the
7th
to
keep
this
city
moving
in
the
right
direction.
Thank
you
very
much.
I.
C
Too
would
like
to
thank
all
of
you
for
being
here
tonight
and
I
would
most
importantly
like
to
thank
you
for
allowing
me
to
have
this
experience.
I
am
an
inherently
shy
person
so
going
out
and
talking
to
people
and
asking
people
that
I've
never
met
before,
for
their
support
has
been
has
gotten
me
out
of
my
box
has
taught
me
a
lot
about
myself.
It's
taught
me
a
lot
about
this
city.
C
I've
learned
from
the
people
I've
spoke
with
I
want
to
continue
learning
from
the
people
and
bringing
this
the
community
back
to
the
people,
as
Greg
said,
campaigning
is
hard
and
I.
In
my
opening
statement,
didn't
mention
my
children
and
my
husband
and
campaigning
is
hard
for
a
candidate,
but
it's
also
really
hard
on
the
husband
and
the
family.
The
kids
and
I
appreciated
their
support.
I've
appreciated
the
support
of
this
community.
How
gracious
you
all
have
been
allowing
me
to
come
into
your
home.
Listen
to
you
hear
how
you
feel
about
the
community
here.
C
The
things
of
the
past
I'm
not
from
Monroe
I've,
been
here
15
years,
but
I've
been
extremely
involved
since
the
day
I
got
here.
I
want
to
continue
being
involved
and,
like
we
say
in
the
library
industry,
I
want
to
serve
at
the
pleasure
of
the
people.
If
you
elect
me,
I
will
serve,
I
will
do
my
best,
I
will
learn,
I
will
grow
and
I
will
be
here
to
listen
to
the
community
and
bring
our
government
back
to
the
community
I.
Thank
you
so
much
again
for
the
opportunity
to
be
here
this
evening.
B
Ladies
gentlemen,
I
appreciate
your
coming
out,
ladies
and
gentlemen,
watching
on
television
or
online
they
say
the
camera
adds
10
pounds
and
I
swear.
They've
got
three
cameras
on
me.
So
that's
why
this
suits
a
little
tight.
Look.
We
really
appreciate.
We
appreciate
you.
We
appreciate
each
other
coming
up
here
to
serve
our
community
win,
lose
or
draw
we're
all
going
to
be
working
for
you
I
again.
Thank
you
for
coming
out
tonight.
B
I
want
the
people
to
move
here
when
they're
coming
to
Monroe
I
want
them
to
move
here,
because
we're
also
I
want
them
to
move
here,
because
it's
the
only
place
they
can
afford.
We
want
people
who
want
to
contribute
to
our
city.
We
want
people
to
contribute
to
our
success.
We
want
people
to
be
active.
It
says
they
help
us
make
this
world
a
better
place.
B
We
want
safety,
we
want
smart
growth
and
a
strong
team
together
together,
everyone
achieves
more
that's
working
with
the
three
entities
that
receive
your
tax
dollars,
the
city,
the
county
in
the
school
board,
I'll
work
tirelessly
for
you,
I'll
work
tirelessly
because
my
family
lives
here
and
if
we're
not
a
success,
I'm,
not
a
success.
I
need
every
one
of
you.
I
appreciate
your
prayers
and
I
would
appreciate
your
vote.
My
name
is
John
Howard
I'm
running
for
mayor,
and
thank
you
so
much
for
coming
out
tonight.