City Council - City Council Candidate Andrew Smith Opens Office

City Council Candidate Andrew Smith Opens Office

Printed From: MiddletownUSA.com
Category: Middletown City Government
Forum Name: City Council
Forum Description: Discuss individual members and council as a legislative body.
URL: http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1570
Printed Date: Nov 22 2024 at 2:06pm

Topic: City Council Candidate Andrew Smith Opens Office

Posted By: randy
Subject: City Council Candidate Andrew Smith Opens Office
Date Posted: Jul 14 2009 at 7:14pm

If you’re driving or walking down Central Avenue you may notice a new office opening its doors. Everything in the office is free, because what they are selling are hopes and ideas for a new Middletown. Andrew J. Smith, a candidate for Middletown City Council (second ward), has just finished working on his new campaign office. The official opening will be August 1st.

To read the complete story click here http://www.middletownusa.com/view_news.asp?a=4493 - middletown City Council Candidate Opens new Office

Replies:

Posted By: Mike_Presta
Date Posted: Jul 15 2009 at 6:57am

Mr. Smith is running for the SECOND Ward seat on city council. I wonder why he chose to have his office in the FIRST Ward?

I guess there's nothing wrong with that, but it sure seems odd.

-------------
“Mulligan said he ... doesn’t believe they necessarily make the return on investment necessary to keep funding them.” …The Middletown Journal, January 30, 2012

Posted By: Pacman
Date Posted: Jul 15 2009 at 7:23am

Cheap rent and he is supporting downtown. I am assuming most people in the Second Ward know where he lives and can easily get in touch with him there. He is making his presents known which is a good thing and I personally preferred and found his answers to the questions posed by MiddletownUSA.com to be more inline with moving this city in the right direction, now whether that occurs is another matter, than Leslie Fords "knee Jerk" responses.

Posted By: Mike_Presta
Date Posted: Jul 15 2009 at 7:35am

Look closely at his answers. They sound exactly like "Change you can believe in" to me.

-------------
“Mulligan said he ... doesn’t believe they necessarily make the return on investment necessary to keep funding them.” …The Middletown Journal, January 30, 2012

Posted By: Pacman
Date Posted: Jul 15 2009 at 8:07am

Mike I agree anyone running for office is basically going to give these types of answers, that is why I qualified them with, "now whether that occurs is another matter". He can talk the talk, now can he walk the walk. It won't be easy if he gets elected and is the Lone Ranger on Council.

Personally Smith outperformed Ford's answers, I really disliked her answer to:

Tell us how you would handle the city's budget concerns?

This is a tough one, because the cuts we have made to city departments have our staff working on a shoe-string. I'll tell you what the answer is NOT. Staff reductions are not an option for me. That would be the classic knee-jerk reaction, but my belief is that you hold on to your good city workers in times of trouble. They've been fantastic. I think if we all work together, we will find a solution.

Staff reductions are not knee jerk reactions. I have had to do Staff Reductions and they were not knee jerk reactions. They were actions which ensure the survival of an entity in many cases. When millions of people are being laid off across this country to say Staff reductions are knee jerk reactions is just plain inaccurate and shows a lack of Financial Acuity to running a City.

I also found this answer to be troublesome:

What are your thoughts on Middletown's Section 8 situation and what would you like to see happen?

I think we as a city need to be honest about who we are and where we are, economically. We are a working-class city with a lot of citizens that need assistance. I think that the section 8 program should remain in place, and that we should not reduce the number of vouchers issued. I think stereotypes about citizens receiving section 8 assistance are unfounded. This is a program that assists residents in becoming more self-sufficient. We need to stop worrying about our "image" and get to the business of helping those in need.

Folks whether you chose to believe it or not in this day and age "Image" is important. It matters in economic development, education, the overall perception of what people think of you as a City comes from your image. This statement, " We need to stop worrying about our "image", is just plain wrong and for a politician to come to this conclusion is detrimental to the City as a whole. Image counts and in todays worlds it counts for a lot.

The city can not just get by with, "get to the business of helping those in need." It is not the city's job to solely take care of the needy, those less fortunate, those down on their luck. It is the Job of City officials to do what is best for the City as a whole, not just 1600 residents but for 51,000 residents, it is time that City Officials realize that and start spending a hell of a lot more time on moving the city as a whole forward and not just those involved with HUD Funds. The city has it's priorities heading in the wrong direction and I fear that if they should get $20-25 Million in HUD funds that will be all the city focuses on to the continued detriment of the rest of the city for the next 5-7 years, if not longer.

What would you like to see happen with the downtown area?

My dream is for downtown to be highly developed. I would like to add that Downtown and the East End are not (or should not) be competing entities, but rather they ideally should be complementary. Downtown could be artsy and eclectic, with specialty shops, and have homes for artists and students. I'd like to see stores that reflect the character of Middletown.

Does anyone have a different opinion on Downtown then "Artsy" specialty shops? A vision that relies on studies done in some cases over 10 years ago. Middletown has changed in the last 10 years in case everyone missed it and it hasn't been for the good. If redevelopment of Downtown is going to be a constant mantra then you need new studies on what is feasible, new financial feasibility studies on implementing the "Artsy" or other look, Who is going to foot the bill, etc. Rather than rely on studies that are not longer pertinent.

Posted By: spiderjohn
Date Posted: Jul 15 2009 at 9:08am

I paid a visist to Mr.Smith's headquarters yesterday, just as MUSA was doing this interview.

Went back later to get a better view of what was going on there.

Mr.Smith is taking his campaign very seriously, and is modeling the process along the lines of the very successul campaigning done by the Obama group.

Now--this is strictly campaign methodology, and has nothing to do with his platform. While he is obviously an Obama Democrat, his local thinking and policies were much more in line with the overall thinking here. I urge everyone reading here to pay him a visit to get to know him and his agenda if elected. Actually we should all do the same with Ms.Ford and Mr.Soppanish, both admirable well-intentioned citizens.

As payback for her past support(voting record), I would expect Ms.Ford to have strong endorsement from AK and the Atrium, though neither entity controls many 2nd ward voters. They may show support through funding, and will probably hedge their bet with small support/lip service to all three candidates. Mr.Soppanish has worked tirelessly and selflessly to further the progress within the ward. He has been very visible on a long-term basis. To his credit, he also has not been "hooked" by the outside big $$ special interests.

This ward seat could well be a very important swing vote in the up-coming Council. Mr.Picard looks strong in the 4th ward, and he should be expected to garner the same support group that backed Mr.Mulligan,Mr.Becker and Ms.Lawrence in the past at-large election. With Mr.Armbruster currently running un-opposed, and Mr.Marconi facing a possible credible challenge from Mr.Laubaugh, we might have to pray for strong campaigns from Ms.Maple and Mr.Laubaugh IF they follow through on their desires to seek office.

As for Mr.Smith's headquarters being just inside the 1st ward border, the spot is a high profile location generously provided for minimal cost. Factor in there being few viable locations currently in the 2nd ward(the old Taget/SAVEALOT plaza could have been a very logical location, though the downtown traffic should provide much more exposure).

as always--jmo