Candidate Forum Opening Remarks

By Cheri Kelley

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE NORWALK COMMUNITY COORIDINATING COUNCIL AND THE WOMEN'S CLUB FOR HOSTING THIS FORUM

IT HAS BEEN AN HONOR TO SERVE THE RESIDENTS OF NORWALK AS YOUR COUNCILMEMBER ~ TWICE AS MAYOR AND CURRENTLY AS VICE MAYOR

WHEN I WAS FIRST ELECTED THERE WERE MANY ISSUES FACING OUR COMMUNITY RANGING FROM OUR DEPLETED RESERVE TO TREE TRIMING AND STREET REPAIR TO AN AGING INFRASTRUCTURE

BUSINESS EXPANSION WAS ALSO AT A STAND STILL

THESE ISSUES WERE AND STILL ARE IMPORTANT TO THE QUALITIY OF LIFE IN NORWALK

WORKING HARD WITH MY COLLEAGUES WE HAVE MADE PROGESS IN ALL OF THESE AREAS AND MANY OTHERS

TREE TRIMMING IS NOW ON A REGUALR SCHEDULE

WE BUDGET $2 MILLION ANNUALLY FOR STREET REPAIR

TO ADDRESS GRAFITTI WE CREWS WORKING 7 DAYS A WEEK

WE HAVE ADDED ~~~ LOWE'S HARDWARE 2 TARGET STORES OFFICE DEPOT STARBUCK'S WAL-MART OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE NORTHGATE MARKET TACOS DON CHENTE APPLEBEE'S FRESH & EASY WALGREEN'S AND GUEST HOUSE INN AND OTHERS TO OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY

I STOOD FIRM TO BRING THESE QUALITY SHOPPING & DINING OPPORTUNITIES TO NORWALK

HAD WE ACCEPTED FAST FOOD AND COFFEE SHOPS WE WOULD NOT HAVE OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE TODAY

HAD I NOT INSISTED THAT PADDISON SQUARE RENOVATE THE CENTER FIRST WE WOULD NOT HAVE APPLEBEE'S ....WE WOULD HAVE A MATTERESS STORE

MANY OF OUR PARKS HAVE BEEN RENOVATED

WE HAVE A STATE OF THE ART AQUATIC CENTER ~ SKATE BOARD PARK ~ TEEN CENTER AND NEW NATURE CENTER ALL FOR OUR CHILDREN TO ENJOY

THROUGH CREATIVE NEGOITATION WE HAVE 240 UNITS OF SENIOR HOUSING AND A NEW SENIOR CENTER THAT IS OFTEN REFERRED TO AS THE "NORWALK HILTON" BY THE SENIORS THAT VISIT THERE

WE ARE UNIQUE IN THAT WE HAVE OUR OWN SOCIAL SERVICE CENTER TO ASSIST OUR RESIDENTS IN TIME OF NEED AS WELL AS A COMMUNITY MEETING PLACE

WE HAVE ONE OF THE LARGEST MUNICIPLE TRANSIT SYSTEMS IN THE AREA....HELPING RESIDENTS AND VISITORS ALIKE GET TO THEIR DISTINATIONS

PUBLIC SAFETY REMAINS MY TOP PRIORITY

WORKING WITH THE SHERIFF'S DEPT OUR GOAL IS TO BETTER SERVE AND PROTECT OUR COMMUNITY ~ PART 1 CRIMES WERE DOWN IN 2008

WE CREATED PROGRAMS TO ASSIST IN THAT GOAL

FAMILY INTERVENTION TEAM ~ A RESOURCE FOR FAMILIES & SCHOOLS

THE CADET PROGRAM ~ PROVIDES TRAINING & GUIDANCE FOR TOMORROW'S LEADERS

WE HAVE A COMPRESHENSIVE MULTI~AGENCY TEAM APPROACH TO IDENTIFY ~ APPREHEND AND PROSECUTE THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR GRAFFITI

NEIGHBORHOOD AND BUSINESS WATCH

WE ACCOMPLISHED THIS AND MUCH MORE INSPITE OF THE STATE RAIDS ON OUR REVENUES AND UNFUNDED MANDATES

WE HAVE BALANCED OUR BUDGET ~~ MAINTAINTED PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT YOU HAVE TOLD US WERE IMPORTANT AND WE BUILT A REASONABLE RESERVE

THROUGH SOUND FISCAL MANAGEMENT & THOUGHTFUL ECONOMIC DEVELEOPMENT WE HAVE MANAGED TO GROW AND PROSPER

THERE IS ALWAYS MORE THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE AND MORE THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO

HOWEVER, AS WE ALL KNOW THE NATION IS IN CRISIS

LARGE NATIONAL CHAINS AND BUSINESSES ARE CLOSING ~ JOBS ARE BEING LOST

MANY OF OUR RESIDENTS ARE FEELING THE EFFECTS OF WALL STREET

THE STATE STILL CAN'T BALANCE THEIR BUDGET AND I AM SURE MORE CUTS ARE IN OUR FUTURE

NOW IS THE TIME FOR EXPERIENCED LEADERSHIP

NOW IS THE TIME FOR LEADERSHIP THAT YOU CAN TRUST

I HAVE ALWAYS MADE MY DECISIONS USING ONE SIMPLE MEASURE..... IS IT BEST FOR NORWALK?

SO WHAT'S NEXT .....?

THERE ARE GREAT PROJECTS ON THE DRAWING BOARD. SOME HAVE BEEN THERE FOR A WHILE ~ OTHERS ARE NEW ~ AND MORE I WOULD LIKE TO ADD

BUT MY FIRST RESPONSIBILITY TO YOU IS TO MAKE SURE WE BALANCE OUR BUDGET AND PROVIDE ESSENTIAL CORE SERVICES....PUBLIC SAFETY ~ PUBLIC WORKS ~ SOCIAL SERVICES AND RECREATION

CONTINUE TO WORK WITH DEVELOPERS AND BUSINESS OWNERS TO BRING QUALITY PROJECTS TO NORWALK

TOUGH TIMES ARE AHEAD THE CHALLENGES ARE REAL AND SERIOUS WE NEED TOUGH EXPERIENCED LEADERS TO GET US THROUGH

AGAIN I THANK YOU FOR THE PRIVLEDGE TO SERVE THIS GREAT CITY

I AM PROUD OF THE LEADERSHIP ROLE I HAVE PLAYED IN MAKING NORWALK A GREAT PLACE TO BE

AND I AM READY FOR THE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE TO COME