By Tom Morris, Write-In candidate for mayor of Bowling Green KY
- I did not want to vote for either of the other candidates.
- We need to have a goal for 100% clean energy by 2035
- Bowling Green has tremendous untapped potential. We need leadership that will move us forward to realize it. We need a leader, not just a manager!
- As mayor, I will make appointments that reflect the diversity of the community.
- Our city needs to go ahead and pass a fairness ordinance. Our LGBTQ community needs to feel welcome and valued.
- I was disappointed in the mayor’s decision to secretly remove flags based on a conspiracy theory. I pledge not to take such unilateral action.
- We need a city workforce that looks more like Bowling Green. We need to listen to Gamechangers and find ways to hire more people of color.
- We need proactive leadership to help us face the uncertain times expected as we battle the Coronavirus, and as we recover. Experts fear that there will be repercussions from the pandemic for years, and the city leaders need to step up to guide our city during these challenging times.
- The city must become more efficient in its operations, freeing up resources to meet some of the challenges we face.
- We need innovative solutions to housing affordability.
- The City Commission needs to pass URLTA. This state law assures renters are treated fairly, but it must be accepted by the municipality before it takes effect. It has been adopted by both Lexington and Louisville, and it is high time Bowling Green adopted it as well. Renters and landlords need to know the rules of the road. As a landlord, I support the common-sense provisions of this law.
- Our city is not pedestrian-friendly. Too many streets do not have sidewalks, discouraging walking.
- Too many houses are poorly insulated, making utility bills unaffordable for the people who live in them.
- We need more trees! Look at planting trees in retention ponds. We need to encourage developers to keep trees and plant new ones. We need to plant trees in city-owned properties.
- We need to re-envision our city planning and zoning in accordance with Strong Towns concepts.
- The city has many vacant houses while people need affordable housing. We need to pass an ordinance so that owners will either repair the vacant houses or sell them so somebody can live in them.
- I feel the need to give back to my community.
- Friends urged me to run; I believe they saw characteristics in me that would make a good mayor.
- We need to make the city easier for small businesses to do business with. City tax collection needs to be put on-line and the laws need to be easier to understand and comply with.
- We need to audit and see if we are collecting the taxes that are due to the city. Are some people getting by without paying their fair share?
- The people need to hear from their mayor more. During the pandemic, the mayor is seldom quoted in the media. City residents need to know that the mayor has their back. I plan to have a weekly “fireside chat” to communicate with the citizens of the city.
- We need to look again at the unsolved murders that have occurred in Bowling Green over the years. New DNA techniques need to be applied to see if any of the cases could be solved. Citizen tip lines need to be established.
- We need a mayor who listens to the people. We will post a feedback form on the city website for people to report concerns directly to the mayor.
- We need to look for more areas where the city can cooperate with Warren County governement and Warren County school systems. We need to consolidate tax collection to make it easier on businesses and to remove redundant bureaucracy such as filing three different tax forms for the city, the county, and the county schools. We may not be ready to consolidate the city and county, but we can certainly achieve efficiencies through cooperation.
- We need to look at inconsistencies with the county in laws that affect businesses. Often businesses that operate in both the city and county have to contend with inconsistent regulations. For example, the city’s monthly deadline for the Transient Room tax is inconsistent with Warren County.
- Our city needs a way to recycle. As our planet fills up with “stuff” and landfills are overflowing, it is unacceptable that our city has discontinued recycling. I propose we choose a group of citizens to form a Recycling Action Committee for creating long-term solutions to this problem.
If this message resonates with you, please give to our campaign, or volunteer here.