Wednesday, October 31, 2001
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Wednesday, October 31, 2001 |
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Fayetteville race pits Walt White, challenger Lee Hunt By MONROE
ROARK
Election day is next Tuesday in Fayetteville, but only one of the three City Council seats is being contested. Incumbent Walt White faces a challenge from Lee Hunt for his seat, while Larry Dell and Al Hovey-King are unopposed and will return to office.
Walt White After being unopposed for the past two elections, White found himself out on the campaign trail last weekend, putting up signs and reminding folks to get out and vote. White came on board in 1989's regular election, served a pair of two-year terms, and is now finishing up his second four-year term. He currently serves as mayor pro-tempore, presiding over council meetings when Mayor Kenneth Steele is absent. With all of the council members having been involved in Fayetteville government for most of the past decade, he feels that the experience and knowledge gained by the group works to the city's advantage. "It's a very professional group," he said. "We all treat it as a business, and you get your best bang for the dollar." White is running on his record, which he says is one of a "fiscal conservative. Less government is better government, but where we need it, I'm not afraid to put it in place." White said that he wants to continue the quality of life he and other citizens have grown accustomed to. "It still feels like a small town, even though it's grown dramatically," he said. "When you get off the highway down here, after being up near Atlanta, it feels like a different part of Georgia." As part of his effort to preserve that quality of life, White places a high priority on getting the state and federal dollars that Fayetteville citizens pay in taxes back here for necessary improvements and services whenever possible, especially in the area of transportation. "When you're working with the state, they dole out the money as they see fit," he said, although he added that relationships with people at the Capitol have improved over time as the council has gained experience. Other areas of importance are public safety and water. It is paramount to make certain that city resources are at the correct level, White said. "They [citizens] expect it, they demand it, they deserve it." This requires constantly looking ahead and anticipating what the city's needs will be, he added. "You've got to stay ahead of the curve or it's going to be on top of you," he said. "We always try to look ahead 15 or 20 years so we don't get caught. A lot of cities wait too long and then have to catch up." He likes the type of planning that the city is now undertaking with regard to the proposed south side master plan. "I like knowing that what we decide will be done years down the road," he said, adding that the process will be a slow one and completion of that area is years away. "I feel like [council has] done an excellent job," he said. "We've got the city going in the right direction. This group knows what it's doing, and has got the direction and the leadership."
A resident of Fayetteville for two years, Hunt qualified in the final hour for the Post 3 race against White. He stressed that he has no personal agenda in running against White for that particular post (all seats are at-large and elected citywide). Hunt is a member of the Libertarian Party and is running on a platform that combats overregulation and other government intrusion in people's lives, according to previous press statements. "Several years ago I came to the realization that neither the Republicans nor the Democrats were interested in pursuing an agenda which would return power and authority to you and me, the taxpaying citizens," he said. "The Republicans and the Democrats continue to vote for and actively support policies which make government bigger and less accountable and responsive. These laws and policies take away your rights as guaranteed by both the U.S. and Georgia constitutions." Hunt's general political philosophy is one that emphasizes less government and more support of local business, according to his press statement. As for specific Fayetteville issues, he says that he wants to see "quality business and residential growth" and work closely with the state to improve traffic flow through the city. He is opposed to additional multifamily residential construction in areas not already zoned for it. He submitted a letter to The Citizen earlier this week which is printed in its entirety on the editorial pages of this edition. In it, he outlined his intentions to not seek any contributions in the wake of the events of Sept. 11. "There is really a single issue for the voters to decide," he wrote. "That issue is the increasing power of government to control our lives and circumvent our personal rights and responsibilities." Hunt stated in his letter that he opposes the creation of the city's proposed historic district because it violates basic property rights of individuals. He added that all city ordinances should be "reasonable and necessary" or else they are a waste of time and money to enforce. "I realize every dollar government gets from you and me is taken by subtle force, and government has a responsibility to see that not one dollar is spent in a wasteful manner," he said. "I will be a watchdog for your money, not a lapdog."
Larry Dell A special recall election in 1988 led to Dell's initial entry into council service. He has held his seat in Post 4 ever since.
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