BONNIE CLARK: Why should I vote for you?

My question to the citizens of Ward II and the candidates who are running for this position: Why must everything in Albany always boil down a race issue? It is 2017 and for this town to grow and prosper, we need to move past race issues and come together as a community, black and white — together.

Ward II in Albany is a very diverse ward. Part of the ward is on the west side of Albany and the other part is on the east side of Albany, two areas that have unique issues. I live and vote in this ward. Like the ward itself, the candidates running for the commission seat could not be more different.

Bobby Coleman has been a commissioner for the past three years. What has he done in those three years? When he originally ran, Mr. Coleman said some of his main concerns include community blight and economic development. During his three years as commissioner, he has attended multiple conferences, which allegedly helped him combat the blight and promote economic development. How did these conferences help him in combating those two areas? Is there still blight in Ward II? Yes. Is there any promotion of economic development during the past three years? No.

Mr. Coleman, claims he will continue to campaign as he did three years ago, going door-to-door. He would like voters to see and hear what his goals are for Ward II. Again, I live in Ward II, yet I have seen neither candidate knocking on my door to ask my opinions or listen to the candidate’s platform.

As far as Matt Fuller’s campaign, what does he stand for? These are the items he addressed in July. Mr. Fuller said “improving education, bringing in new industries, and combating crime are some of his main goals. I think Albany has so much untapped potential. Again, that’s another reason why I wanted to get involved because I see huge potential in Albany and a lot of untapped resources that we really need to get into.”

OK, Mr. Fuller sees untapped potential in Albany, how is he going to tap into that potential and how is he going to address the issues in Ward II? I have not seen a clear plan from Fuller.

Both the east and south areas of Albany suffer from economic retardation as a result of a non-aggressive economic development in the city and county. Poverty and crime are results of a restricted environment that experiences both market and policy failure.

Economic development takes place mostly in the west and north areas of the county. Generally, the east and south sides of Albany are dotted with a few retail and service-oriented businesses.

We, as a community, need to address the migration of residents and businesses from the east and south areas of the city. In order to do this, we must tackle the rampant crime that Albany is facing. The city of Albany and Dougherty County will never be viable to industry until crime in under control and our school system is improved.

So, I ask the candidates of Ward II: What are your plans to improve the quality of life, address community blight, improve economic development and combat increasing crime?

To the residents of Ward II – get out and vote on Dec. 5. If you don’t vote, you don’t have a voice in your city and county government.

To Mr. Fuller and Mr. Coleman, give me a reason to vote for you.

Bonnie Clark is a resident of Ward II in Albany.