OPINION: Important Qualifications for City Council Members
“Someone willing to give of their time and drill down “-
Our interim mayor’s endorsements in yesterday’s paper cited two skill sets that he thinks are needed on City Council – law and finance. With all due respect to members of the bar, there were three lawyers on City Council when the flawed Piedmont Hills Underground Utilities District contract was approved.
Financial acumen? The 2011 Municipal Tax Review Committee calculated that a 50% increase in the Sewer Tax was needed. Rejected by the voters, 4 years later the Sewer Fund is the most solid city account and the work is ahead of schedule – the tax could probably withstand a 50% cut.
Volunteers do their best but are at the mercy of staff reports. What is needed for Council is commitment and initiative – someone willing to give of their time and drill down into city matters to make sure we get the best services for our community without wasteful spending.
Anyone who has worked with Jen Cavenaugh knows how committed she is when she takes on a job. Having spear-headed the Facilities Maintenance subcommittee on this year’s Budget Advisory and Financial Planning Committee, she is the perfect person to put on Council now to oversee this new spending program. Her initiative with the Piedmont Recreation Department showed that she wants to make our community better. I wholeheartedly encourage you to vote for Jennifer Cavenaugh.
Garrett Keating, member of Jennifer Cavenaugh’s campaign committee and a former Council member.
