Craig Ford

Infrastructure / Transportation Infrastructure is important when discussing any city, but especially one that is trying to attract industry. Ensuring every household and business has access to high-speed internet is crucial in today’s times. It is needed for every aspect of our life from school to medicine to banking, and everything in between. One of my goals is to make Gadsden a Gigabit city so that we are more competitive for industrial development, as well as attractive to young people looking for cities to locate in. Education GSCC truly sets us apart from other cities our size. It is also an excellent recruiting tool for industry. I plan to fully utilize all offerings offered by GSCC when recruiting new industry to Gadsden. I am completely supportive of the Advanced Manufacturing Center and will work to ensure potential industries are aware of its benefits. Criminal Justice / Public Safety Research has shown that it is easier, and less expensive, to retain current employees than to recruit and train new ones. I know low pay is a major concern to current first responders so I will work to find ways to offer pay raises. Also, as mayor, the first responders will know that they are supported, valued, and appreciated. I will conduct meetings where first responders can voice their concerns with their jobs. These meetings will allow me to learn the issues and problems, firsthand. This knowledge will provide me with the information needed to find solutions. I will work closely with the Civil Service Board to protect its integrity while finding solutions to problems. My goal is to make Gadsden a desirable place for first responders to work. Once the internal problems are addressed, the focus will turn to recruitment. In my opinion once pay and morale are addressed, recruitment will come naturally as Gadsden will be a desirable place for first responders to work, long-term. Economy Design an industry friendly dashboard for potential industries. A dashboard that focuses on good, precise data that demonstrates why an industry should locate here. A dashboard that illustrates our strengths such as GSCC, JSU, location, low cost of living, available properties, Noccalula Falls, Coosa Landing, and our vibrant downtown which includes restaurants, shopping, and nightlife. The dashboard will also diminish our weaknesses or show ways the weaknesses can be diminished. This dashboard will be expanded into a complete business campaign. Infrastructure / Transportation Roads have been a complaint of many people for numerous years. I pledge to work with the County Commissioners on road projects, as well as prioritize projects within the city limits so they are completed in a timely manner. I understand that part of our road problem has to do with water drainage issues and flooding. This issue will be addressed immediately but correcting this problem will be a major expense and require time. The areas of the city that have the worst drainage and flooding issues will be addressed initially, while the remainder of the issues will be corrected according to urgency categorized by the engineering department. Education As our regional educational institution, JSU is expanding its footprint into this area. I have had numerous conversations with Dr. Killingsworth about their role in Gadsden and will continue to have these conversations as I feel JSU has an important role in our community especially when discussing workforce needs. Taxes / Budget Seek Grant money for training in early warning/detection of mental health issues. Educators need to be trained to recognize the signs of students who are in trouble, whether that is a student on the verge of becoming violent or a student who is getting bullied and becomes suicidal, as well as for students who are dealing with abuse at home, or other domestic issues. The city could provide funding to send teachers to a training program or to bring in an expert to provide training during teacher in-service days. This training will also be a partnership with JSU. Criminal Justice / Public Safety An additional safety feature that I feel strongly about is providing direct, 2-way radio communications between GCS and local law enforcement. This step includes a silent alarm that goes straight to Gadsden Police and the Etowah County Sheriff’s Office. This alarm will take the go-between out and allow law enforcement to get on the scene faster. Economy Provide a workforce that meets industry needs. If a workforce is not readily available, draw on the relationships with GSCC and JSU to demonstrate how a workforce can be trained in a timely manner. Create an incentive package for industries to locate here. This package will focus on state incentives, as well as local incentives. Outside of the normal incentives offered, the relationships with GSCC and JSU will be highlighted, as well as low cost of living. Attract young people to Gadsden or retain those that are already here. Young people are attracted to things such as river walks, hiking trails, downtowns with downtown living, and art districts. As your mayor, I will continue to invest in the things we are doing right to attract young people while also working to create the other things we need. Economy Identify growth areas for Gadsden. This includes readily available land and properties, as well as resources such as the labor pool. We will identify where we can grow and who can make that growth happen. Maintain transparency with the community during the recruitment process that does not give a competing location an advantage. Also, provide enough information to the community that they are assured there is no hidden motivation nor agenda. Criminal Justice / Public Safety Create a tip line phone line and website for users to leave anonymous tips about people they think could be a threat or in danger. For example, if a student is aware that one of their classmates is getting bullied, they could report it anonymously. This tip line could be open for the entire city, not just students and school staff. For example, a neighbor who overhears another neighbor threatening violence at a local shopping spot could report this threat using the tip line or website. Criminal Justice / Public Safety A third safety feature focuses on entrances and exits of the schools. Investments in this area include technology that uses cameras and buzzers for entrances into ALL school buildings during school hours. The camera system will also provide a record of who is allowed in and out of the building. Entrance will only be at one door while the remaining doors will be secure and serve as exits. These doors will provide emergency exits but stop people from wandering in. These same systems could be used to secure municipal buildings if employees and citizens desire them for safety. Education UA-GC Early Learning Initiative is the first in the state and serves as a model for other early learning programs. Expansion of this program benefits our community greatly by preparing students for kindergarten, as well as benefits the other early learning initiatives by providing best practices. I am supportive of this program and look forward to working with and helping expand the offerings of UA-GC. Criminal Justice / Public Safety School safety is a concern that I do not take lightly. As your mayor, a School Resource Officer (SRO) will be available in every city school. If there are not enough officers, retired officers will strongly be encouraged to apply. If there is still a shortage, a training program will be created to certify, possibly even deputize, school security. This program could be a partnership with JSU. These personnel are not just needed for the unlikely scenario of an active shooter but also for fights, bullying, kids bringing drugs or weapons to school, parents getting into a fight, and other domestic occurrences.