I want to thank The Citizen for allowing the candidates the opportunity to showcase their positions.

My name is Paul Oddo, Jr. I’ve lived in Fayette County for 35 years, over seven of which have been in the city, after we were annexed in 1998.

I’m running for Fayetteville City Council because I can help the citizens of Fayetteville maintain an outstanding quality of life for us and for future generations.

I moved here with my family from Minnesota in 1970. It had been too cold for too long, and we decided it was time to either buy a snow blower or move south!

My position is unique because my family has some of the most developed land and undeveloped land within the city limits. So I see both sides of the issues as they relate to development.

I will help the council improve service to the citizens by emphasizing planning, public safety and property taxes.

Planning: I will work on the council to give the Planning Commission guidelines so that the decisions of that commission will be more objective. Creativity should be encouraged.

I will work with the council to improve the sign ordinance to benefit citizens, consumers and businesses. Since it meets with community approval, I suggest we use the signage of Chick-Fil-A as a benchmark, study the existing ordinance, and then revise it so that future signage will be more useful to both citizens and businesses.

Traffic can be improved through the implementation of a plan for future secondary roads as new development comes along.

Public Safety: It is paramount. We need to ensure that law enforcement and fire departments have the resources adequate to provide protection for the citizens as we grow into the 21st Century.

Property Taxes: Currently the city collects, on average, $160,000 more each year over the preceding year due to increases in property tax value assessments. (This is in addition to the newly implemented “Storm Water Tax.”) If additional funding for the programs outlined is not needed, I will work with the council to propose substantial cutbacks in the millage rate in order that savings be passed back to the homeowner.

Please join me on Oct. 22 at Melear’s Barbecue for hot dogs and hamburgers.

My name is Paul C. Oddo, Jr. Please vote for me on Nov. 8.

Thank you.

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