Locally owned businesses need community support

Thank you to all of my many supporters that voted in the first general election and then took the time to cast your vote for a second time on my behalf. I have received all of your well wishes and kind words of encouragement since losing the election.

I have also heard from you loud and clear that you want me to continue to represent your wishes, even if I am not holding a public office in which to do so. The response has been overwhelming from educators, industry leaders, judges and private citizens. You have my word and I will not let you down on this promise. I will use my (already very loud) voice, of which I am known for, to be a watchdog on local issues and how they are being dealt with here by our leadership. All I ask of you in return is to get engaged and educate yourself about our town and its issues of concern. Please get engaged or stop complaining about it!

I am committed to the job creation goal set forth in my campaign. I truly believe that we as a unified community of city leaders and citizens can create 4,000 new employment opportunities for ourselves if we want it bad enough to do so.

The pool of talent is here amongst us and God has blessed us with the fertile ground with which to cultivate those opportunities. Again, for your part in this effort, if you are working and have an income, please spend those dollars here in Albany. I ask that you buy local, shop local and support Albany first. Your loyalty to Albany will keep this community thriving.

While we anticipate the long awaited arrival of the Olive Garden and other national chain offerings, as a community their shelf life for survival is just as shaky as any other business in town if we do not have the industry or people to support it. All of that, of course, flows back to jobs and the freedom of choice and security that a steady income from working provides.

Our small businesses and local restaurants will feel the direct impact of the competition that the national chain brings to the landscape. So please remember to patronize your local hometown favorites because those dollars will likely stay in Albany instead of being redistributed throughout a national chain web.

B.J. FLETCHER

Albany