In the first Candidates’ Forum my objective was to let the citizens of Fayetteville know my dedication to the outstanding quality of life for us and for future generations.

My qualifications for office include being a successful certified public accountant for 29 years. I’ve been actively involved in the community for the past 25 years through membership in the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club. And I am concerned about the development of the city.

To reiterate my three main points for those who have joined us in the middle of this series, they are planning, public safety and property taxes.

The Planning Commission needs objective guidelines to eliminate the self-acknowledged subjectivity that guides their decisions.

Sign and lighting ordinances need study and revision to make them more beneficial to citizens and businesses alike.

The city should get ahead of the curve on traffic if congestion is to be alleviated.

Law enforcement and fire departments should have the resources necessary to protect the citizens as the city grows into the future.
Property taxes increase annually as a result of increases in assessments. Citizens need an accounting of how the city spends these increases which are unrelated to the millage rate.

The citizens should know where their candidates stand philosophically so that they will have a general understanding for how the candidates will vote on issues.

It is important to know that my philosophy is traditional and compatible with the citizens’. For example, It’s been said that no person shall be deprived of property without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use without just compensation. It’s been further stated that no state can deprive a person of property without due process of law. Those statements are from the fifth and fourteenth amendments to the U.S. Constitution.

The citizens need representatives who hold to the traditional view of the Constitution’s protection of private property rights. I will be such a representative.

Eminent domain should be reserved for the traditional use of acquiring private property for public use only. It should not be used to force citizens to sell their property to private developers for big box stores.

I will vote to uphold the traditional interpretation of the Constitution and will endeavor to safeguard property values.

Please vote for me on Nov. 8.

Your neighbor,

Paul C. Oddo, Jr.
Oddo4council@yahoo.com

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