What endorsements have you received for your current candidacy?
I’ve received endorsements from citizens across our community. I’m humbled by the number of citizens that have already allowed me to place a “Ted Mohn” campaign sign in their front yard and have pledged to vote for me to get back onto the Fayetteville City Council so I can be….”Your Voice at City Hall”.
If offered, would you accept contributions from political action committees affiliated with the real estate industry? (RPAC, BuildPAC etc.)?
Yes.
With crime being the #1 City Council priority, what solutions would you bring to the table and how would you fund them?
-I would vote to add more police officers as recommended in the 2010 Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) Final Report. The final numbers might be revised given our current Chief of Police is conducting his own internal evaluation and scheduled to report to city council in the coming months.
-I would ask to expand the pre-trial release monitoring system for repeat offenders that are continually granted low bail or unsecure bail and while out on bail commit more crimes.
-I support Chief Medlock’s new initiatives and would vote to fund his initiatives.
-I would seek to have expanded partnerships with our various local organizations that help mentor our children and guide them away from a life of crime.
FUNDING: These initiatives should and can be paid for with existing revenue streams the city receives on an annual basis. When a city council lists crime as its top priority during successive strategic retreats, those top priorities, need to be funded with existing resources before looking to raising our property taxes.
What is your opinion on the recent issues between the City of Fayetteville and the Public Works Commission?
PWC is an extremely well run utility provider and has many customers outside Fayetteville city limits. I support Fayetteville and its PWC working together to find efficiencies within their organizations that benefit both, the PWC rate payer and ad valorem city taxpayer. Extreme care must be given as these are two distinct and separate revenue streams and one revenue stream should not suffer from the other.
The North Carolina General Assembly, through Fayetteville’s charter, gave PWC the authority to expand its utility services throughout Cumberland County. Therefore, I don’t necessarily agree with the current requirement that any new development(s) outside Fayetteville city limits and within the Municipal Influence area (MIA) must first be voluntary annexed into Fayetteville before receiving PWC utility services.
I personally find it curious that the recent Davenport Lawrence Study glossed over a most important section of our city’s charter. The working from our city’s charter is below:
Sec.6.19. Sale of electricity, water and sewer [service] in Cumberland County.
The public works commission of the City of Fayetteville is hereby authorized and empowered to extend its electric system, water system and sewerage system anywhere in Cumberland County, and to sell water, sewer service, and electricity anywhere in Cumberland County.
What are your thoughts on a new city sign ordinance? What would you like to see in the ordinance?
Like much in the UDO I believe the sign ordinance needs to be a living document, crafted with stakeholder input and updated when our business community identifies problems. I’d like to see an ordinance that meets the needs of the business owner and simultaneously addresses concerns of visual blight. Sign technology has made huge strides over the years and business owners should be allowed to capitalize on new sign technology to enhance their business. Each business is unique and must be allowed to sell their brand.
What new ideas/concepts can you bring to the office you are seeking?
I will once again bring the teamwork mentality and approach to city government. This includes buy-ins from our citizens, local businesses, city staff, government agencies, the chamber, private organizations and the collective city council. During my four years on city council we worked as a collective team and we made several positive gains for our community.
