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Wood will run for re-election as mayor
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| | | HATCHER HURD/www.northfulton.com
Roswell Mayor Jere Wood makes the announcement he will seek a fourth term with a large group of city and political leaders standing behind him, including, from left, Sandy Springs Mayor Eva Galambos, Mountain Park Mayor Jim Still, Milton Mayor Joe Lockwood, state Rep. Harry Geisinger and state Rep. Wendell Willard. (click for larger version) | |
June 30, 2009
Mayor Jere Wood marshaled the support of friends, business people, community leaders and fellow politicians in the rotunda at City Hall June 26 as he announced he would seek a fourth term as mayor in the November election.
About two dozen stood with Wood as he stated his case for re-election. He said a long-standing goal is to see the northwest quadrant of the Holcomb Bridge-Ga. 400 intersection redeveloped.
The proposal to throw a bridge over Ga. 400 as a way to improve transportation between east and west Roswell will have the possibility of doing that as well.
"But the first thing I learned entering government is that it doesn't do anything fast," he said.
What has occurred during his watch is the reduction of the millage rate from nearly 12 mills to 5.455 mills, a change of 17 percent, he said.
"And we have done that without cutting services or laying off city employees. We have done this by careful management and hard work," said Wood.
Meanwhile, the city has grown to 101,000 people and its land increased by 27 percent to 42 square miles. The tax digest has increased in that time from $4.4 billion to $12.4 billion.
Meanwhile, Wood said he did not feel comfortable leaving the job with "a split council" who has no consensus on top issues.
"We have a City Council that is split 50-50 on how to move forward on redevelopment. How to proceed on transportation is unresolved," Wood said. "We just don't have a consensus on how to promote redevelopment. As a result there have been no major redevelopment projects in the city. Nothing has gotten off the ground despite having devoted a lot of attention to this.
"Apparently, what we can agree to do for redevelopment doesn't attract any interest from the business community. We have real redevelopment issues on Holcomb Bridge Road and Ga. 9."
Wood also said he still enjoys the job of mayor and has the "energy and the drive" necessary.
"I don't want to leave while there is still important work to do," he said.
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Tags: Roswell City Council
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