Newspaper Page Text
<3l;r
ml
Vol. 1
MEET THE
CANDIDATES
EDITORS NOTE: Because the News-Review is first of all a community service, we are devoting almost all of this
issue to presenting the candidates that you may better choose the officials who will shape the destiny of our city.
In some instances some photos were not available or the questionaire was not answered. This we regret; however,
we wish to point out that the News-Review is not endorsing editorially in this election.
In order that Augusta voters may become better acquainted
with the 28 candidates running for City Council on October 12,
the League of Women Voters of the Augusta Area has made the
following services available:
“MEET THE CANDIDATES” - Channel 6 (WJBF)
Sunday, October 10
Two showings: 1:00 -2:- in the afternoon
11:30 to 12:30 at night
A mimeographed Voters Guide, which may be picked up at
Augusta banks and community service centers.
Information on the candidates, which will be re-printed in the
Sunday edition of the Augusta Chronicle- Herald, October 10,
QUESTIONS ASKED CANDIDATES:
PRESENT OCCUPATION
1. WHAT IS THERE IN YOUR EDUCATIONAL
BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCE THAT MAKES YOU A
PERSON WE NEED ON OUR CITY COUNCIL?
2. IF ELECTED, LIST THE 3 THINGS YOU WOULD MOST
LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN IN AUGUSTA THROUGH COUNCIL
ACTION DURING YOUR TENURE. HOW WOULD YOU
FINANCE YOUR PROGRAM?
FIRST WARD
C. W. Batemen Age 57 313 Telfair St.
PRESENT OCCUPATION: Grocer (Owner, Batemen’s Super
Market)
1. My formal education along with business management and
a sincere interest in our City government and the necessity for
our representatives to excel in their ability to co-ordinate the
services of specialists in the various fields in order to qualify for
the State and Federal aid necessary to accomplish any worthwhile
projects, such as moving the railroads. This I feel I can do.
2. I would like to see the trains routed into our city on the
river levee property. ♦ I would like to see the Daniel Field facility
moved and the city retain the property for future city
improvements. * Greater support for our Recreational
Department which is having more success today than ever before.
I feel it has been very instrumental in curbing the use of drugs. *
Financing through Federal-State and local support.
Where Do We
By Grady Abrams Go From Here?
Last week Attorney Ruffin
and I had lunch together and
discussed the political situation
here in Augusta. He was of the
opinion that this community
lacked leadership from both
white and black races. His
concern was mostly about poor
leadership from the black
community. Most of our
leaders have either been bought
off or have become enemies to
each other. Either way blacks
are left void of leadership in an
ever changing complex society.
Instead of progressing in the
political arena, we are
regressing.
Jack and I pondered this
issue throughout our meal and
finally concluded with a
question, “where do we go
from here?” As I sat there, a
thousand thoughts must have
entered my mind. Many plans
had been tried, and yet we find
ourselves with no more power
than we found ourselves with
during the post Civil War era. I
told Jack the answer lies in our
history. We must learn from
THE PEOPLE’S PAPER
our mistakes if we want to
progress. Repeating mistakes
will only keep our progress at a
minimum.
We have thought it to be so
important to evolve our
activities and movements
around a coalition between
blacks and whites based on a
genuine love for each others
welfare. We, black people, are
like the poor man who traveled
around the world in search of
fortune only to return home
and find it in his own yard.
We have tried to create an
alliance or a coalition with the
power structure. We have
found throughout the years
that this coalition did not work
toward our progress. The
structure ended up getting
much more than we. As Lerone
Bennett puts it, “It is obvious
that the powerful-and not the
poor - run the whole system
and are deeply involved in
930 Gwinnett St. Augusta Ga Phone 722-4555
.... _
r f ~
Hugh Cross Age 45 340 Broad Street
PRESENT OCCUPATION: Director Richmond County
Landfill
1. 9 years service as a City Councilman representing the First
Ward, having served on every standing committee of Council. Past
Chairman of the Public Safety Committee, presently Chairman of
the Recorder’s Court and Stockade Committee.
2. 1. The number one priority would be to continue and
strengthen the special Narcotics Division of the Augusta Police
Department which was initiated by me approximately two years
ago. 2. Promote and work toward a Civic Center with adequate
seating capacity for programming a variety of educational and
entertainment activities for the citizens of Augusta and
accommodating conventions held in our city. 3. Revise the
traffic offenses contained in the City Code so the offenses would
be comparable to the conduct of the driver.
Inez R. Wylds Age 45 104 Fourth Street
PRESENT OCCUPATION: Homemaker
1. Edgefield High School; Attended Winthrop College;
Graduate of Augusta Law School; Training Supervisor, E.I.
DuPont Company
2. 1. Planning -- Inadequate planning causes unfair zoning
changes, inefficiency, poor progress, higher taxes. I feel that good
long range planning can help us progress more than any other
program. I will work for this kind of program. 2. Responsiveness
to needs of the city -- Citizens are losing faith in elected officials
and other phases of government because they are not responsive.
I will work to take city government out of a “closed club”
situation and help to make City Council represent people. The
more we can take politics out and put people in to the forefront,
the better attitude we will have in the entire community. 3.
Consolidation - Consolidation, either of the city and county
governments or of overlapping functions, will save money. As a
member of City Council, I will use my influence to present an
acceptable charter. By working together we can move our entire
community forward.
SECOND WARD
wW I
if-
Li
William Baxter Age 62 717 Walton Way
PRESENT OCCUPATION: Retired from Pullman Company
(35 yrs.))
1. Attended Shofield School. Worked in several Voter
Registration drives; worked in the Progressive Political Club for 7
years - Vice President 3 years, President 1 year. Member Bethel
AME Church. Worked with Boy Scouts in my church. Will work
with all my power to make Augusta a better place to live.
2. l.That the city be an Equal Opportunity Employer. 2. To
set up Crime Prevention Bureau in the Police Department with
Federal money under the Crime Bill. 3. To work with the
Chamber of Commerce and the Committee of 100 to bring new
plants and more industries for more and better jobs.
Of®
* k
\
* mm x - W
B. L. Dent Age 59 26 Gregg Street
PRESENT OCCUPATION: Retail Furniture Merchant
1.1. M.A. Degree in Economics and Business Administration.
2. 6 years as City Councilman (2nd Ward.) 3. 40 years in the
furniture business.
2. 1. Expand the city water lines; water is a commodity that
adds to the revenue of the city, (a) Sell Revenue Certificates. 2.
Cost of living clause added to all employees salary base and pay
workers who work on their off-days, instead of giving time off at
a later date. 3. Expand the city by either Consolidation or
Annexation.
HL
Fl ■ r
..
HRr J
Rev. Roosevelt Jones, 111 Age 26 938 Wrightsboro Road
PRESENT OCCUPATION: Medically Retired, U.S. Army
1. Graduate - Claflin College 1967. B.S. degree, Social Science
and Art. Experience: 1) Community Action Agency 2) Alcohol &.
Drug Abuse Program 3) tutor (under-privileged children) 4)
Community development.
2. Development of a mental educational program - We have
spent a great deal of money trying to develop the physical being
of our youth, and we have not succeeded. I think it is about time
for us to develop their mental being. By doing this we can make
the youth aware of the functions of their government and their
relationship to their fellowman. This program can be financed
through the Recreation Department of our city. Os course the
budget for this department would have to be increased to be able
to finance such a program.
THIRD WARD
i
J ■ -fmr K.
S.R. Lamb Age 45 1510 Dade Street
PRESENT OCCUPATION: Automobile Salesman
1. Education - High school graduate, Work -1 come in contact
with people from all walks of life. In communicating with them, I
become aware of their needs and desires, for a better Augusta. It
is then up to me as a representative of the people to see that they
are carried out.
2. 1. Work toward some form of united government whether it
be consolidation or annexation. 2. Work to continue improving
our water and sewage systems. 3. Work to find a solution to the
problem of railroads blocking the main streets of our city. * THe
financing of these programs would come by revenue certificates,
federal grants, and taxes.
BL_
&
■
JB
Mallory K. Millender Age 29 1315 - 15th Street
PRESENT OCCUPATION: Instructor - Paine College,
Editor-Publisher of the News-Review
1. Having received my education (Master’s Degree and further
study) in Georgia, Alabama, New York, Kansas, and France, I feel
that I have been exposed to a variety of ways of solving problems.
My experience as Voice of the People Moderator and as a
Newsman helps to keep me informed on local issues. I believe
that I can serve as a communications bridge between the young
and old and the haves and have-nots. Most of all, I have the will
and the determination to make Augusta a better place for all of
us to live.
2. 1.1 would like to see an all out brotherhood campaign led
by the Mayor and City Council. Such a program would do much
to relieve the racial tension in our community and to define the
real issues that would be in the interest of all Augustans.
Everyone must be guaranteed an equal opportunity in all areas.
This program would benefit everyone and would not cost anyone
a dime. 2. I would like to see a vigorous effort made on the part
of City Council to provide more and better paying jobs for all
citizens. Every man has to be guaranteed the opportunity to meet
his basic needs. Most of the job training costs are absorbed by the
Federal Government, the remainder by the employer who will be
the direct benefactor of increased production. 3. I would like to
see much greater development of our recreational facilities and
programs. The cost would be very little when we consider the
number of our children who because of their intense involvement
in these programs might not be tempted to seek pleasure and
excitement through drugs, alcohol or criminal acts.
v Jr
John E. Whittle Age 38 934 Baker Avenue
PRESENT OCCUPATION: Private Investigator and Bondsman
1. Resident of Richmond County for 38 years... Educated in
the schools of Richmond County...elementary - Joseph R.
Lamar...graduated from Richmond Academy, 1950. Business
experience.. A-1 Bonding Co. - Private Inv. - Whittle’s Florist. 5
years with Augusta Police Department...B years as a deputy
sheriff of Richmond County.
2. 1. Commitment of city owned property along the banks of
Savannah River & Augusta Canal for the development of the
proposed Regional Recreational Park. Financed through Federal,
State & local funds. No financing needed froom the City directly.
2. A program of more intense education on the narcotics
problem. Federal grants are available for this purpose. 3. A new
form of consolidation of City and County governments that
would be acceptable and advantageous to all concerned. This
consolidation, by rendering more efficient government programs
and eliminating duplication of services would more than pay its
own way.
Henry A. Wright Age 66 1808 Wrightsboro Rd.
PRESENT OCCUPATION: Newspaperman - lawyer
1. Attended Newberry College, hold LLB degree from the
Augusta Law School and am qualified to practice law. Six years
service on the City Council of Augusta where I served on the
Finance Committee, Waterworks Committee, Public Safety
Committee and Recreation Committee. Was chairman of Public
Works and of Recreation Committees. While Chairman of Public
Works we eliminated the old city dump and institued a program
that is saving the city over $20,000 a year.
2. 1-Work for the elimination of the dual taxation that places
such a heavy burden on the citizen that he is moving to the
county areas. A single tax on property could be inaugurated by
removing the city ad valorem tax and replacing it with funds to
be brought back from the state from the sales tax paid to
businesses in the city. The taxes imposed for street paving and
upkeep could be eliminated and a county-wide tax for that
purpose instituted with all roads and streets kept up with this
fund. Many other avenues exist through which funds could be
raised in a manner that would spread the cost of city government
to all who benefit from the city. 2--The realization of a new
community spirit that would induce every citizen to join in a
concerted effort to build a greater Augusta by reviving the dying
spirit that exists today. My long experience in public relations
would be devoted to this goal which would cost little but the
determination of every citizen to exert the same spirit of
cooperation which enabled our founding fathers to build this
great nation. 3-Eliminate the blocking of streets by trains
through the building of two overpasses in connection with the
new East-West expressway. These could be financed on the same
basis through the state highway department as the highway itself,
with additional assistance from the railroads involved.
SEE CANDIDATES
Page 2
October 7, 1971 # 29 4
15<