ward 5 Archive

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Terry Hart gets backing for Ward 5 commission seat: A ‘kiss of death’?

– September 30, 2009Posted in: Tom Knighton

The Dougherty County Taxpayers Association has officially thrown its lot behind former railroad executive Terry Hart in his bid for the Ward 5 Albany City Commission seat currently held by Bob Langstaff. Thursday night, the DCTPA made it official, though it was already a foregone conclusion that they would. Bob Langstaff is one seat they specifically targeted, and Hart is the only challenger.

We’ll find out how accurate Ward 5 City Commissioner Roger Marietta was when he allegedly referred to the group’s endorsement as “the kiss of death.”

Unfortunately for Commissioner Langstaff, Marietta may well be his worst liability. Recent comments likening the group to “domestic terrorists” wasn’t a good idea. Commissioner Marietta quickly apologized, saying he was taken out of context. Of course, the Albany Journal reports that he did it at least one more time. Yeah, not such a good thing.

But how does this impact Commissioner Langstaff? To start with, it built up animosity between DCTPA membership (and supporters who aren’t members) and the City Commission. A lack of any statement denouncing Marietta’s comments, or even a polite disagreement, from any other commissioner doesn’t help improve relations.

Time will tell whether or not this is going to be an issue. Bob Langstaff isn’t an easy target in the least. He’s not going to be easy to beat, make no mistake. However, I don’t think that a DCTPA endorsement is any kiss of death, especially in Ward 5 where more people own their homes than some other wards.

For Hart to win, he’s going to have to be vocal, engaged, be a hell of a candidate. I don’t know him personally, so I can’t say for certain that he’s any of those things. But we’ve got some time until the election, so we’ll see. It my intent to try and sit down with all candidates in the contested races so you can make an informed decision.

tomknightonWritten by Tom Knighton. Read his blog at SWGA Politics.com. A lifelong political junkie, Tom started out his adult life as a journalism major at Darton College before leaving school to serve his nation as a U.S. Navy Corpsman. Through the years, he has watched government from outside and inside. A former Reagan supporter, then later a Democrat, Tom now finds himself quite comfortable as a card carrying Libertarian and all around smart-elec.

Tags: city commission, elections, taxpayers, ward 5
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Leadership a top Albany priority

– September 17, 2009Posted in: Politics

I am gravely concerned about the state of affairs in the city of Albany, from the misappropriation of funds to disregard for the moral fiber within parts of the administration. The recent alleged transactions involving misappropriation of funds, underhanded transactions, misleading information and immoral acts are just part of the problems we face.

It is perplexing, at best, to understand why certain members of the existing administration feel threatened by the taxpaying citizens of Albany and Dougherty County. Are they threatened to point of calling them “local terrorists”? All the citizens are doing is expressing their exasperation and disdain for the way the city has handled and/or allowed certain recent events to take place.

Many times people have asked why I am running for Ward 5 city commissioner and whether I thought I could do a better job that incumbent Bob Langstaff. Good questions and I will answer them in two parts.

First, as to whether I can do a better job: As stated in a newspaper article two weeks ago, I am a retired railroad executive. I started working for the railroad as a summer job while I was in college. That summer job resulted in a 45-year career, 40 spot in various levels of management and senior management with multibillion-dollar companies. I also owned and operated by own company for 15 years. I have been responsible for budgets of several hundred million dollars annually – many times the size of the city of Albany’s budget.

In addition to running every facet of the rail transportation industry, I have experience in industrial development and have worked with Fortune 500 companies on expansion and redevelopment projects. My business experience taught me many things, but unless you can rationalize your spending by some form of return on investment through cash flow or other desired tangible benefits, you do not invest. Government should be run with the same philosophies.

My wife of 45 years has a degree in accounting and one of her favorite old accounting phrases is … “If your outgo exceeds your income, your upkeep will be your downfall.” Someone wrote that in the newspaper recently, and it is a lesson we should all follow in our personal and business lives.

So, back to the question of whether I feel I could do better job than my opponent. I would be wasting everyone’s time including my own if I did not feel I could contribute new views, business experience and perspective to the improvement of our city government. I think that instead of bashing the citizens for expressing their concern in how the city is run, existing government should welcome new views and perspectives.

Second, why am I running for commissioner in Ward 5? I am extremely concerned about the direction we are heading and feel that apathy is our worst enemy. Citizens are deeply concerned about the alleged recent mishandling of funds by our city government, emphasized by the fraudulent activities and lack of regard for the present and future interests of its citizens. I cannot sit idly by and watch the downhill spiral of our city without exerting my best effort toward correct the issues at hand.

The Taxpayers Association has put forth four important goals in their mission statement: education, activism, oversight and reform. Government has to be run like a business in which there is accountability, responsibility and transparence (ART) and running any business is definitely an art.

I feel I can contribute to the better of the city in many ways. Those of you who know me recognize that I always conduct my business and personal activities with honesty and integrity and I will not deviate from these principles. Apathy is our worst enemy and voter apathy or action will decide the fat of Albany in the coming years. Do you want status quo or do you want accountability, responsibility and transparency in your city government? My primary goal is to make your voices heard. If you do not make the effort to vote in the Nov. 3 election, you are sacrificing your voice on future issues.

Terry-HartWritten by Terry Hart.  Mr. Hart is a retired railroad executive and candidate for the Ward 5 seat on the Albany City Commission.

Tags: city hall, politics, ward 5
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Albany’s Ward 5: The 2009 battleground?

– August 19, 2009Posted in: Lon McNeil, Politics

This November, about half of Albany’s voters will be asked to make their voices heard on a host of critical issues. The Ward 5 City Commission race is shaping up to be an important measure of the political landscape.

Local attorney Bob Langstaff will be seeking a third term as the Ward 5 commissioner. With hot button issues surfacing in recent months, his seat may be challenged by at least two political newcomers bent on shaking up the status quo. The outcome of this particular race will speak volumes about the attitudes and desires of not only those in Ward 5, but the city itself.

Langstaff says crime is the top issue facing Ward 5 and the entire city. In response to questions about his bid for re-election, Langstaff said, “Keeping citizens safe is the primary purpose of local government. We need more officers on the street. I have worked hard to get more officers, and to increase their pay and benefits in order to attract the best. I intend to run to finish a few things I’ve started including getting the consolidation vote to the citizens, fully staffing our police dept, and directing SPLOST funds to much needed infrastructure improvements.

Tom Knighton, a contract employee at the Marine Base, an active member of the Libertarian Party of Southwest Georgia, and co-owner of the website swgapolitics.com, is giving serious consideration to running for the seat. A spokesperson for Knighton said that an official is forthcoming. If he decides to run, Knighton says that his top priority would be transparency in local government.

“It’s imperative that people see everything going on and know where every penny is being spent. Transparency would have prevented some of the shenanigans that have taken place downtown, and I intend to bring that to the City Commission,” he said.

Knighton also says that economic development and taxation are critical issues.

“One of the primary issues facing Ward 5 has got to be taxes and how that tax money is being spent. When the mayor is bragging that we have $23 million sitting there, and people are seeing a tax increase due to the General Assembly eliminating the homestead exemption, then we need to take a look at what the city can do to ease the burdens felt by so many in Ward 5,” he said.

Retired railroad executive Terry Hart has told officials with the Dougherty County Taxpayers Association that he will give serious consideration to running if the group feels he is the best man for the job. He said he plans to meet with association co-Chairman Richard Thomas and others with the organization, and will make a final decision in the next few days. In a phone interview, Hart said, “Something needs to be done to change the way things are going in Albany, and if I do not run, I will support whoever the group decides to back.”

Also up for grabs in the Nov. 3 nonpartisan election will be the Ward 2 seat held by Dorothy Hubbard and the Ward 3 seat held by Morris Gurr. Hubbard says she likely will seek re-election to a second full term after being initially appointed by Gov. Sonny Perdue following the federal indictment of former commissioner Henry Mathis. Gurr says he will not seek re-election to a second term.

Other than Hubbard, no potential candidates have publicly emerged in Ward 2 or Ward 3.

Qualifying for the commission elections is Aug. 31 to Sept. 4. Candidates must pay a $450 fee. The job pays $15,000 annually, plus medical insurance coverage.

LonMcNeil 09Written by Lon McNeil.  Mr. McNeil is an Albany independent marketing consultant.  Find him online at AlbanyOnPoint.

Tags: consolidation, ward 5