One in series

West Point voters will choose three City Council members in the Nov. 3 election.

Incumbents Joe Downs, Darren Kelley and Judy Wilkinson face one challenger, Gloria Ramsey Marshall. Voters may choose up to three candidates, who are elected to at-large council seats.

Candidates were asked to answer a survey from LaGrange Daily News. Here are their responses:

Joe Downs

Address: I use my business address for correspondence at No. 1 48th St., Valley, Ala. 36854, and my business phone number is (334) 756-3126. I am a lifelong resident of West Point.

Age: 57

Education: My education is that of a medical doctor, board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine with a subspecialty board certification in geriatrics also by the ABIM.

Employment: I am self-employed.

Political experience: I have served two terms, almost eight years, as an alderman/councilman for the city of West Point.

Family: My wife, Debra, and I have been married for 33 years, and we have three grown children and three grandchildren.

— Why did you decide to run for office again?

I am running for office again to help West Point through the development which is currently taking place. I am running to help the city cope with lots of people trying to sell us lots of ideas about even more development. While certain kinds of development can benefit us, the city already has a lot on its plate. We now have to be even more careful with future projects, limiting ourselves to what we need and can afford.

— How have you been campaigning? No answer given.

— What has surprised you about the campaign and the issues you’ve heard about from voters?

The campaign has surprised me in that people are still focusing on the delivery of high quality basic services such as police and fire protection, water and sewer, and street maintenance.

— What do you consider the biggest issue to be facing your city?

Our city’s biggest issue involves continuing careful and affordable development while maintaining high quality basic services and fiscal responsibility. We also need the city to better inform the council and the public about all issues affecting the city.

— How do you plan to contribute to resolving that issue? No answer given.

— Are there any changes you’d like to see in the way the city operates? No answer given.

— Four years from now (when you may be completing your term of office) what shape would you like to see the city in: physically, financially, other?

Four years from now we hope several new neighborhoods will be established. We hope our older neighborhoods will be more prosperous. We want to impress everyone with the services, fiscal responsibility, and transparency of our city. We are committed to preserving our historic areas and the beautiful green spaces with which our city has been blessed.

— Finally, in 50 words or less, feel free to address any issue not addressed in these questions.

No answer given.

Judy Landreth

Wilkinson

Address: 403 Briarcliff Road, West Point

Age: 41

Family:

Married to Bob Wilkinson, one son, one daughter

Education: Lanett High School, Southern Union State University, Auburn University; University of Georgia-Georgia Municipal Association Certificate of Recognition, Georgia Municipal Association Certificate of Achievement

Employment: Owner - Formal Elegance, Columbus bridal shop, for more than 20 years.

Political experience: Served last eight years on West Point City Council, past president of West Point Merchants Association, West Point Depot Board of Directors, West Point River Walk chairman, Community Development chairman, past chairman of Greater Valley Area Chamber of Commerce Tourism Committee, past president of West Point Boys & Girls Club, Depot Day chairman and organizer of Beach Blast, Riverfest, Back to School Bash and many other community events.

— Why did you decide to run for office again?

The simple truth is, I love the city of West Point and I have loved serving the citizens for the past eight years. It is not a job to me, it is a passion. With both of my children in college, I can give the city even more of my time. I am one of the senior members of the council and have been a part of monumental changes to our city. With all that our city has undertaken in the past few years, I think a change in leadership would be detrimental. I feel I bring a lot to the council. I have owned my own business for more than 20 years and am the only small business owner on the council. I have never been one to back down from a challenge, I am not easily impressed nor intimidated. I am tough and speak up on issues when others will not. You always know what I think. In the eight years I have served, I have made many contacts throughout the region that have proven to be beneficial to the city. I am constantly thinking of ways to improve our citizens’ way of life.

— How have you been campaigning?

I have a proven track record over the past eight years. Word of mouth is always the best form of advertising, and I feel I can run on my record because I have always kept the city’s best interest at heart. Being the youngest person on the council, I am well versed in communicating with the voters through modern forms of technology such as Facebook and through e-mail. The traditional forms of media are also used.

— What has surprised you about the campaign and the issues you’ve heard about from voters?

Most citizens are concerned about the selection of a new police chief and want to make sure we choose the best candidate to fill Chief David Kerr’s shoes, which are big ones to fill. They are also concerned with voter fraud. In the last election an unusual number of absentee ballots were turned in by a council member who is not up for re-election this term. These ballots changed the outcome of the election. If this were to happen this election, rest assured, every absentee ballot will be challenged and win, lose, or draw, I will go the distance to make sure this never happens again.

— What do you consider the biggest issue to be facing your city?

The biggest issues, or shall I call them challenges, facing our city are ones all cities wish they had: growth. With growth comes a plethora of challenges. West Point has incurred substantial debt over the past four years. We have upgraded our water, sewer and gas services in order to accommodate the impending growth caused by Kia and their related industries. With growth in population comes a need for increased fire and police protection. It is the city council’s goal to work within our budget, which we have already planned to do. We must also pursue additional grants and private funds to handle other projects that may arise. We do not need frivolous recommendations to double the council’s salary, as one of my opponents so moved, when the budget is so tight. We have to be fiscally responsible.

Another big issue is the vote on the Tax Allocation District. This will allow the city to improve many blighted areas that will improve the quality of life in West Point.

— How do you plan to contribute to resolving that issue?

No answer given.

— Are there any changes you’d like to see in the way the city operates?

The city of West Point has always run efficiently. The city does a great job with a very limited, hard working and dedicated staff. In the future we will need to add police and fire personnel as well as additional employees to maintain the streets and other infrastructure.

— Four years from now (when you may be completing your term of office) what shape would you like to see the city in: physically, financially, other?

In four years I hope to see the city teeming with new residents. With new residents I see new retail establishments and more restaurants. One of the most important things I see with this growth is a new public high school. Schools are the heart and soul of any community. Even with the added growth I hope to maintain our small-town charm. If you have driven through downtown West Point recently you will have noticed a huge difference in the way it looked just a few years ago. This is the charm I see us retaining and expanding.

— Finally, in 50 words or less, feel free to address any issue not addressed in these questions.

I would like to thank the citizens of West Point for their support over the past years and again ask for your support on Nov. 3. If re-elected, I will continue to be a strong voice on the council and stand up against backroom politics.

Gloria Ramsey

Marshall

The Daily News did not receive a response from Gloria Ramsey Marshall.

M. Darren Kelley

Address: 124 Tyler Terrace, West Point

Age: 58

Education: none listed

Employment: retired, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Political experience: councilman, 2004-09

Family: married 36 years to Donna; two sons, three granddaughters

— Why did you decide to run for office again?

The next four years are very critical to the health and well-being of West Point and the experience I have gained over the last four years will help us keep on track and at the pace wee need to perform to succeed.

— How have you been campaigning?

Door to door, sitting and talking, which in my opinion is the only effective way.

— What has surprised you about the campaign and the issues you’ve heard about from voters?

Everyone seems concerned about crime and dilapidated housing and lack of youth activities, which are my concerns also.

— What do you consider the biggest issue to be facing your city?

Education. Our dropout rate is much too high for our West Point public school students.

— How do you plan to contribute to resolving that issue?

Work to locate a middle/high school in West Point, either through the countywide system or a charter school if we have to. In the meantime, develop better youth programs for our young people.

— Are there any changes you’d like to see in the way the city operates?

Our staff does an outstanding job in many ways, however, there are always ways to improve time management skills.

— Four years from now (when you may be completing your term of office) what shape would you like to see the city in: physically, financially, other?

A new fire station and public safety center; investments with the Kia project paying dividends which allows us a reduction in city property tax with zero percent millage rate as a target; a K-12 school in West Point.

— Finally, in 50 words or less, feel free to address any issue not addressed in these questions.

Manage growth by utilizing infield development whenever possible to reduce sprawl. I am pleased we have a functioning planning and zoning department to manage this now. It is great we have the promise of good jobs in our area’s future. We must take full advantage of that opportunity by improving our neighborhoods through better housing, schools and youth programs. We must always keep our most precious resource at the forefront of our decision-making and that is our citizens, both young and old. Columbus State University is great for our city but we must have K-12th grade public education in our city to have healthy growth.