Don Haddix

Positions and Comparisons, Part 1:

Residency:

1. Harman has lived here 9 years.

2. O’Toole has lived here one year and claims that gives him more understanding of density and what we have in PTC than I possess because he has lived in it and I have not.

3. I have lived here 20 years. I lived in a Maryland D.C. suburb and worked in D.C. So I DO understand density. Having also lived in two different places overseas I understand what we have here, having seen probably more cultures and living standards than either of my opponents. I personally have lived the history of PTC, from a place of less than 14,000 residents to now, thus experiencing the changes over the years and what caused them. I see the hemorrhaging of the PTC, now, and the cause. I understand these combined issues far better than either of my opponents.

Communications:

1. Harman says it is already happening, except there are no replies to offensive emails and such. Council cannot help it if people will not go to the PTC website and such for existing information. If so, why are there so many complaints of not being answered?

2. O’Toole favors greater communications opportunities.

3. The current council is far less open than the prior Council. Telephone calls, emails and letters need answered.

I want to create a forum on the city website to allow citizens to input, exchange and develop ideas for PTC. City members can take part as they choose. If the council will not add such to the PTC website, I will add one to my server space, for myself and any other council member willing to share the cost.

Council meetings, when public input is allowed, is currently in the order of citizens, proponent (developer, etc.) and then opponent (HOA, etc.). It should be proponent, opponent, citizens, with more input allowed as changes occur.

Big Boxes:

1. Harman says he personally does not want them but says we cannot legally stop. Quoted as probably being for the sale of the street for Kohl’s development. Why be for a sale that would enable what he does not want? Why not hold the vote before the election if he is opposed?

2. O’Toole is against.

3. I am against.

More information at donhaddix.com and The Citizen letters and website.

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Mike Harman

I was asked by a citizen this week if I was sure that I wanted to run for City Council. My answer was a definite yes. Why? Because I am confident that I can do an excellent job as we face key issues vital to our city’s future.

I’m confident because I believe my time as a volunteer on the Water and Sewer Authority (WASA) has prepared me for this task. WASA is an organization whose sole mission is to provide sewer service to all of the residents and businesses of Peachtree City.

They operate much like the City Council, except on a smaller scale and deal with only one issue. There are 29 full-time staff, including a general manager (comparable to the city manager) who is responsible for the entire operation. A five-member board of directors oversees the operation to ensure the organization serves the best interests of the city and its citizens.

This responsibility includes oversight of the general manager, review of financial performance of the operation, environmental compliance, review and approval of the annual budget and work with the city staff.

Each board member is an unpaid volunteer appointed by the City Council, as are members of other commissions and authorities in the city, such as the Airport and Development authorities, Tourism Association, Recreation, Library and Planning Commissions, etc.

The members of the board have no financial interest in the operation of WASA. They are citizens who have applied for a position and agreed to commit to a five-year term to work on your behalf. They are concerned with keeping your rates as low as possible, while still providing the excellent product and service we as citizens expect.

Members of each of the city’s commissions and authorities volunteer sometimes countless hours to ensure that the city we all moved here to enjoy remains a place we are proud to call home.

I have attended several meetings of different organizations and I can assure you that each volunteer is passionate about their job and ensuring the betterment of the city.

I want to take this time to thank the volunteers who help maintain the quality of life we expect here in Peachtree City. It is in this spirit of community that I want to be your city councilman for the next four years.

Thank you, and I would appreciate your vote.

Mike Harman

mharman@peachtree-city.org

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Thomas O’Toole

Peachtree City is my home. I work here, I play here, I live here, my kids go to school here, and I worship here. This election is about staying the course or charting a new direction.

Let me summarize my vision and leadership goals for the change of direction I believe Peachtree City needs to take.

I promise to aggressively protect our greenbelts and improve our natural buffers around commercial developments.

As the city reaches its first 50 years it now faces a new challenge – redevelopment, especially residential. The planning department as part of the comprehensive plan review has already identified six to seven neighborhoods that are in need of redevelopment. Failure to responsibly address this need could result in an increase in rental and Section 8 housing.

I promise to approach traffic concerns with a proactive long-term solutions-oriented vision. I will take steps to improve the efficiency of government such as utilizing zero-based budgeting and tightening the planning-related city ordinances.

I advocate televising council meetings and other commissions and committees.

Finally, I promise to support our public safety agencies by providing them the support and the resources they need to accomplish their missions and to improve our path system through my Clean, Safe, and Courteous Path Program.

I will adhere to a four-step decision-making process: Listen, Dialogue, Think, and Act. I will use the comprehensive plan as my written guide along with the land use plan. I will enforce strictly the ordinances of the city and amend those as needed.

Stronger oversight of city committees and actions is needed by the council to ensure adherence to the Peachtree City vision. I will vote based on the impact on quality of life, public safety, financial impact, and perceived benefit to the city’s uniqueness.

Tom O’Toole will provide principled leadership with vision that protects the promise of Peachtree City. As the citizen’s representative on the City Council, every vote I take will be with the will and desire of the majority of citizens’ concerns in the forefront.

I relish the opportunity to be presented with the hard decisions that will preserve and improve the unique character of Peachtree City without sacrificing any of the very elements (real natural buffers for development, a world class path system, and a family friendly, safe city) that make up the character of this city.

Thomas O’Toole, Post 1

www.tomotoole.net

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