ASK THE CANDIDATES: Three challenge incumbent Reed for District 7 council seat

Incumbent Ben Reed faces three challengers in a bid for his seventh term as the District 7 representative on the Gadsden City Council.

Reed is opposed by Singn Horn and local businessmen James "Jimmy" Kelton and Chris Robinson.

Robinson lost a close race to Reed in 2018, with the incumbent prevailing by just 49 votes out of 1,261 cast.

The Times asked the candidates to provide their short-term goals and long-term objectives should they be elected. Their responses are presented as submitted, subject to minor editing.

Singn Horn

Short-Term Goals:

I like to use the K.I.S.S. (Keep it Simple Singn) principle when it comes to short-term goals. As they say, before you can do any good, you must get elected first. I am standing up for the folks who can’t stand. I am speaking for the unspoken.

My campaign is grass roots, boots on the ground; as I knock on doors and speak with our citizens, I let them know their concerns are heard and will be addressed. I will keep this energy going throughout my term in office. Since I am the only candidate running for District 7 that lives in the Mill Village, Alabama City, it has been said we are the “forgotten folks, sometimes the slums.” I want to change that mindset and let them know we have a voice, and it will be heard.

Within the first 10 days, I want to meet with the mayor and each council person separately to understand their focus and to ensure we know how the Mayor/council form of government works. I am committed to communicating effectively, openly, and honestly. We often use the word transparent loosely. You can lie, deceive, steal and kill, yet still be transparent while doing so. Let’s just focus on the issues within our district and city to work them without any personal interest or gain, but the pure satisfaction that we are moving forward together.

Within the first 30 days, it is my hope to meet with every department head, city attorney, fire and police chief, some city employees, etc., to better understand their challenges and develop a plan that supports the way ahead for our city.

Long-Term Objectives:

To put my good military leadership, decision making and training experience to use in tackling some of our city’s problems. Continue my boots on the ground approach throughout the district and talking to our citizens for continuous improvement for our city. My slogan is, “Let’s Grow Gadsden Together.” We can achieve this through collaboration, communication, and commitment with our business leaders, citizens and elected leaders.

To continue looking a person in the face, understanding right or wrong, finding better ways to provide the best solution to the problem. Work with our other elected officials, (mayor, council and school board) to help this city achieve high marks within our education system. In order to grow our system in any way, we must grow through educating our youth as well as our older adults.

We must grow thru better community and economic development, infrastructure, revitalization and expansion, recruitment and retention, and innovative thinking. We can achieve all this through maximum terms limits by training our successors with the necessary skill set to continue moving our city forward. The generation behind us is smart, educated, creative and dedicated. We must leave the best road map possible so they can pick it up and continue the journey.

Someone once said, “We grow from mistakes and birth maturity. Humility will always defeat arrogance. We grow as we go!”

James 'Jimmy' Kelton

Short-Term Goals:

• Work on cleaning up areas of the city.

• Fight crime and drugs in the city.

• Police presence on the streets.

• Full audit of funds in the city budget.

• The cemetery on South Fifth Street, clean it up, it is rich in history.

Long-Term Objectives:

• Bring more business to the city.

• Our city has less than half the population we had in 1970, we need to change that.

• Help homeowners with minor repairs and yard work, don’t just take property and tear homes down.

• Need to sell any surplus property we have at auction.

Ben Reed

Short-Term Goals:

My goal is to finish the employee compensation plan for all employees, with emphasis on police, fire and all other first responders.

To be a positive influence input into the hiring, training and retention of all entering employees as well as management positions which supervise and train new hires.

These people are sometimes topped out and they need increases for their services and experience in their fields.

We need to revisit our agreement with the Humane Society for a better working plan with co-operation between the Humane Society, the city, animal control and the City Council.

I will be suggesting a full-time grant writer to stay on top of funding for various projects. These grants can cover local senior citizen needs as well as paving, drainage, public works and engineering projects. Grants for employee compensation will be investigated.

Long-Term Objectives:

My long-term objectives are to cooperate with the new council and Mayor. This will assure a smooth transition.

Workforce and education will be a top priority because through these two areas and our recruitment agency, we can prepare for a very lucrative future in new industry recruitment. Industry wants many things from a community, but the first things are a good education system and a workforce ready for employment or training. Our IDA has and will have a step ahead on these two saleable objectives.

Along with these objectives, new industry and our local citizens desire a recreational atmosphere as in our Moragne Park, Noccalula Falls, our new city Venue and the Gadsden Sports Park located behind Gadsden Community College down to the river. This project was done by the city and Gadsden State Community College, and is a state-of­ the-art park for local citizens and bringing in outside competition.

To see through to the finish of our new rebuilding of Elliott Community Center, which will be an asset to the people of Alabama City as well as all our citizens.

Another objective is to give incentives to local business who either start a new business or expand their existing business.

I will stand by all legal and city ordinances concerning zoning. We must protect our communities as the laws were designed to do.

Last but not least I will continue to answer all calls, return and follow up on all calls.

Chris Robinson

Short-Term Goals:

Work with mayor, City Council and finance director to get needed pay increases for our first responders.

Long-Term Objectives:

Will advocate for initiation of the Noccalula Corridor Project, which includes adding sidewalks, street lamps, pedestrian crossings and creating a more appealing and pedestrian friendly road frontage at Mitchell Elementary School.

This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: Gadsden District 7 City Council 2022: Meet the candidates in this Q&A