Incumbents:

• Reva Sullivan (Onslow) (Ward 2)
• Randy Thomas (Onslow) (At Large)
• Alva M. Williams (Onslow) (At Large)
• Jerome Willingham (Onslow) (Ward 1)

Challengers:

• Jerry A. Bittner (Onslow) (Ward 2)
• James Bryan (Onslow) (At Large)
• Hunter B. Hadley, Jr. (Onslow) (At Large)
• Kevin O’Connor (Onslow) (At Large)
• Lori B. Ready (Onslow) (At Large)
• Robert ‘Bob’ Warden (Onslow) (At Large)

Below is a list of questions I will be sending to all the candidates within a few weeks. Give them a read and add your own in the comments I’ll add them to the questionaire before sending.

- Water is becoming a less plentiful, but more frequently required asset in Eastern NC. What policies would you push to ensure that Jacksonville has a safe, secure and clean source of water?

– The current City Council took steps to reduced benefits to city employees. What policies would you push to maintain a viable city workforce and recruit/retain employees?

– Transportation is a significant issue in Jacksonville. How would you seek to solve traffic issues and mitigate risks? How would you work with the NCDOT and the legislators to push for better support of our transportation systems?

– What priorities will you have regarding infill development within Jacksonville?

– What policies would you push to make Jacksonville more attractive to businesses?

– Many residents complain about the lack of recreational opportunities (swimming pools, parks, mountain bikiking trails, etc) in Jacksonville. What priorities will you have regarding recreation?

– The City is currently fielding resumes for the City Manager position. how would you feel about the current Council hiring a Manager before the potential election of an new council?

– Downtown Jacksonville has been overcome with blight and abandoned and unused buildings. Past Councils have approved Downtown Master Plans that would replace the existing buildings with high-priced homes. Even now, there are several recently built homes in the above-$250k price-range available downtown. What policies would you suppoyrt to revitalize the Downtown area?

– Actions by the current Council have raised questions about transparency and integrity in Council-actions. What are your thoughts on te recent events and how would you address potential issues of open-governance?

This post is a mixed-bag of stuff that’s been floating around my head these few weeks.

The race for Jacksonville’s City Council

There hasn’t been much public campaigning. Mr. Hunter Hadley, Jr (At-Large) has yard signs posted. Councilwoman Reva Sullivan (Ward 2) is hosting a campaign kick-off event tonight (September 3rd) from 6pm to 9pm at Tony’s Seafood and Oyster Bar. Mr. James Bryan (At-Large) has a blog, but it’s fizzled (almost as badly as Bloviations!).

I was quite disappointed at the lack of campaigning at the National Night Out. Not one candidate for Jacksonville’s City Council visited the Recreation and Parks/Trails and Greenways commissions tents…Well, that’s not necessarily true…Council-members Alva Williams (At-Large) and Reva Sullivan walked by, but didn’t say anything to the Commission volunteers manning the tables. Ms. Sullivan even refused to accept information regarding Trails and Greenways and an upcoming Downeast Cyclists’ ride in October.

Freedom Communications, Inc Files for Bankruptcy

The company which owns the Jacksonville Daily News, and other eastern NC newspapers, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. JDNews publisher Elliott Potter says it’s “business as usual” at Jacksonville’s only newspaper.

Speaking of the Jacksonville Daily News…

The paper’s opinion page reads more like a Republican-funded political rag than a libertarian-based newspaper. It’s no wonder that younger folks aren’t interested in paper news when all you see are screeds that accuse President Obama of being a “socialist” at best and the anti-christ at worst.

Some Cool Bicycle Poetry

Thoughts on My Bike and There’s a Flower in My Pedal by Andrya Dorfman. Tip o’ the bicycle helmet to Cycleicio.us

While We’re on Bicycles…

Did you know that less than 10% of accidents that include a bicycle are the bicyclists’ fault?

Blowing my Own Horn or Ringing my Own Bell

As of August 15th, it’s been 12 full months of bicycle-commuting. As of earlier this week, I’ve bicycled over 4,000 miles. Whoever says you can’t live in Jacksonville without a car is wrong.