Wednesday, June 8, 2005 | ||
Bad Links? | Rapson running again for PTC Council seatWeed pondering bid for higher office vs. return to councilBy JOHN MUNFORD Peachtree City Councilman Steve Rapson will seek re-election, but his fellow Councilman Murray Weed said this week he is still undecided because he is considering a run for higher office. Weed declined Monday to reveal what office he might campaign for, but said he is seriously contemplating all my options. I havent made a firm decision yet, Weed said, adding that he has time to do so. Right now everythings a possibility. This November, Peachtree City residents will fill two council seats, currently held by Rapson and Weed, and the mayors post, currently held by Mayor Steve Brown, who has already said he will run again. Rapson, 42, said he decided to run again for council in part because of the precedent-setting decisions that have been made by the current council. I honestly think they would have gone the other way had I not been there, Rapson said. Rapson, who is now chief of staff for Fulton County Commission Chairwoman Karen Handel, most recently served as budget director for Fulton County. He also had previous finance roles with Peachtree City and the Fayette County Board of Education. A 15-year resident, Rapson said he thinks it is important to protect the citys quality of life, and the city will need to deal with redevelopment issues in coming years as we continue the transition from a growth-oriented city into a stable, built-out community. Rapson noted that his experience with city lifestyle has largely evolved around his children: accompanying them on field trips and scouting trips and operating the family taxi to and from band performances, swim meets, church events, dance recitals and play rehearsals. I feel that I am blessed to live in this community and I will work to protect that lifestyle, Rapson said. I use the experts on the authorities and commissions to make better decisions. I do my homework and research the issues before I vote. I have the ability to sift through the data and make a decision, explain it and implement it. Rapson is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, has served as treasurer for Fayette County Special Olympics and has served in numerous community and civic organizations. He and his wife Kristi have two children: Andy, a recent graduate of McIntosh High School and Sarah Beth, who is a rising senior at McIntosh. His daughter Stephanie, her husband, Jay Douglas, and Rapsons grandson Johnathan live in Louisville, Ky. |
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