John F. Floyd Commentary: Ford has the skills to move Gadsden forward, should clean house
The voters have spoken, and the new mayor of Gadsden is Craig Ford.
Ford garnered more than 61% of the vote, a resounding proclamation by the electorate of Gadsden.
The mayor-elect will need all his political, educational, selection and communication skills to guide this city for the next four years. It will be imperative for Gadsden’s success that Ford receives complete cooperation from every resident, regardless of party affiliation.
The selection process is over, and I believe the voters have chosen an excellent individual to take over the reins of City Hall.
Heather New, Ford’s opponent for mayor, ran an excellent campaign and exhibited skills well beyond her political years. I hope she will consider future positions in the Gadsden and Alabama political landscape.
Mayor-elect Ford has said he will surround himself with a cabinet of men and women who are successful in their own right, people who can give him the type of guidance that is essential and warranted.
Gadsden is blessed with talent required for the path ahead. There should be no more appointments of friends and politicians like the appointments to the Gadsden Airport Authority. The GAA is a prime example of what happens when unqualified individuals are appointed to responsibilities of which they have little knowledge.
There are all indications Ford will clean house when he takes control of city government. The first to go should be the finance director who couldn’t find time to save the city $1 million on refinancing certain bonds. The second to go should be anyone with responsibility for economic development in city government, and even though it’s set up as a separate entity (but still receives city funding), that should include the Gadsden-Etowah Industrial Development Authority.
All city building projects should be halted until a proper cost benefit study can be completed, and this especially applies to the $1.4 million project for offices for the IDA at The Venue at Coosa Landing. The cessation of this project would be a good place to start.
An additional review of pay for police, fire and first responders should be conducted. The previous administration neglected these essential services for too long. Those public servants’ pay must reach parity with that in surrounding communities.
I believe Ford has the managerial skills, experience and determination to, in time, do just that.
These are just a few of the major problems I see in city government. I am sure Ford has a list much longer than mine. With perseverance, skill and determination, I am confident answers will be found.
I think the future of Gadsden started on Sept. 20, 2022, with the election of Craig Ford as mayor of Gadsden.
Ford is verbose, forceful, commanding and has a vision for this city. I believe that is just what Gadsden needs at this point in time.
John F. Floyd is a Gadsden native who graduated from Gadsden High School in 1954. He formerly was director of United Kingdom manufacturing, Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., vice president of manufacturing and international operations, General Tire & Rubber Co., and director of manufacturing, Chrysler Corp. He can be reached at johnfloyd538@gmail.com. The opinions reflected are his own.
This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: John F. Floyd looks at Gadsden election results
