Alex Fudali

One of the issues I talk about is district representation. Today, Council members are elected at large. There are 6 posts or Council seats and each seat represents the entire city. It is safe to assume 9 out of 10 residents in Roswell probably could not identify their elected Council, a fact acknowledged by several candidates in recent debates. Yet these same candidates say they want to keep the current process unchanged for electing City Council. They say they want to represent all of Roswell. If 9 out of 10 residents do not know who represents them, who do they go to when they need help? It is very clear that what we have in place needs to change. I say it is better to serve a portion of Roswell and do it well than to claim you serve all of Roswell and do it poorly.

Representing Roswell by districts ensures residents know their elected council. They can hold them accountable for their performance and how they conduct their business on behalf of their district. Council members would be more inclined to work together in support of the programs and issues important to the part of the community they were elected to serve. The temptation to tear down one another would give way to collaboration and cooperation. The negative energy and friction that exists on the City Council currently would give way to the productive work elected officials need to do to keep our city moving forward.

With over 85,000 residents, having at large representation greatly diminishes accountability. It is much easier for elected officials to hide their record among 85,000 residents than it would be if they represented 14,000. We need to create an environment for the residents of Roswell to know their elected officials. Changing the structure of electing council from an at large manner to district representation brings government closer to the people. This form of council representation exists in neighboring Sandy Springs.

While Roswell elections are considered non-partisan, in each election cycle, some candidates form alliances between each other hoping to strengthen their chances of being elected to the City Council. Some of these alliances are overt; others are done in a more reserved manner. Regardless of how the alliances are formed, the fact they occur greatly diminished the ability of candidates to be independent in their thought and how they end up serving the residents of Roswell. These alliances harm our democratic process as they do nothing to promote dialogue on important issues. They create distraction, dissention and friction among the candidates and often continue into City Council after the election is over.

We have seen comments from past candidates as well as sitting Council members saying: “I am independent and will not be part of any 'faction" or "gang" on the council. My support comes from people who agree that we need a fresh perspective on the City Council. I pledge to you that I will work equally and fairly with all my colleagues on City Council.” This is a noble pledge, and one that should always be kept. Yet the opposite occurs. By advocating support for one candidate over another, by forming alliances or factions, foundations are created for dissention and friction that continue to spill into the City Council after the election. I am not a part of any alliance or faction. I view my alliance as being with the residents of Roswell, not with another candidate or political faction. To me, these alliances harm our city and drive wedges between people. I am focusing on creative ideas and a new perspective of representing the residents of Roswell. My campaign is about moving the city forward, bringing solid and proven experience into Roswell government. I am challenging every resident of Roswell to help me accomplish these goals.

When I first announced my candidacy for the council, I began to receive calls from residents of East Roswell, in particular from residents of Martin’s Landing, asking me about my position on the Martin’s Landing dam.

The initial conversations offered me an opportunity to educate myself about East Roswell and about Martin’s Landing. I spent countless hours walking around the lake, looking at the dam, talking to ML residents. I walked around the lake and dam area before, during and after the torrential rain storms we recently experienced. While I am not an expert on dams, what I have seen leads me to believe the Georgia Safe Dam Agency may be off track on its assessment of the Martin’s Landing dam.

Putting a $4 million obligation on the residents of ML, the City of Roswell or even the State of Georgia may be an overreaction on the part of GA Safe Dam. I believe the resident of ML need to have an advocate to help them in their dealing with the GA Safe Dam Agency. I will be that advocate.

This issue goes beyond Martin’s Landing. Every lake and dam community in Roswell has to understand what is at stake here. If ML cannot resolve the dam issue to the satisfaction of all parties, who’s to say others would be able to do so when faced with similar circumstances?

The challenges facing Roswell are diverse. Each section of the city, each community, each subdivision has its own set of particular issues and challenges. Be it a lake, a dam, a street in disrepair or something larger like redevelopment or development in general, the City of Roswell is facing many complex issues at a challenging time. I am ready and have the experience to take on these challenges.
I need your support on Tuesday, November 3.

We need your support on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3rd

Time for a new perspective