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Robinwood Ct
Benton, Ar. 72015
Dear Citizen of Benton,
For the past two years, it has been my honor and privilege to serve as your Alderman in Ward 1. We have seen such progress as the street improvements on Hicks Drive and Winchester is a brand new road giving access from the east back to Military. Other projects are currently underway such as Chris Drive and Edge Hill and Watson. I know that Denise Street has been a concern to many folks and I fought hard to expedite the culvert replacement there.
I voted against the electric rate increase and tried to bring forward an amendment that would have reduced our rates by 5%. And we need to be aware that a potential rate increase on water and sewer is coming in 2009. I will fight to prevent this action if reelected.
I have been outspoken many times against what I have considered unjust expenditures and waste of tax payer’s moneys. I probably spoke the loudest against the Parks initiative that would have spent over $3 million dollars paid to a certain developer that I believed was not a good investment for Parks. Instead, I fought to encourage the Parks Commission to purchase the old airport land for future Parks development and save the money to use for the build out of the new facilities, such as Soccer fields and possible an outdoor water park. I have always been in favor of Parks improvements, but like most citizens that voted, I believe that we should invest wisely and with prudence.
I have always put the citizens concerns ahead of the administration’s wants. This was most evident in my public stance against annexation. I believe that when a city seeks to annex a territory, it must consider all the costs involved to the current citizens. This administration was only concerned with the new “tax base” and not the problems that we have not addressed for our current citizens.
I write you today to ask for your support in my battle with “Good Ole Boy” politics and the status quo of Benton’s city government. It seems that I have caused enough strain on this system that I have drawn an opponent for my re-election bid.
This opponent was the flag bearer for the Parks initiative that was soundly defeated and is being backed by the current administration and the former alderman whom I defeated two years ago. It seems that my stand against political favoritism has also encouraged some developers to back his campaign.
I pledge to continue to push for the citizens rights on all fronts of city legislation. As most of you know, it is not the money that one gets paid to serve on the City Council that drives a person to want to serve. It is the calling of what one believes that he or she can do to make a positive change in our City.
I am asking that if you find it possible to support my campaign financially, it would deeply be appreciated. But more importantly, I need your vote on November 4 to continue our push for progressive change in Benton’s City government.
Sincerely,
Alderman Greg White
hgwhite at swbell.net