Issues | David Keener for Social Circle City Council

Liberty and Government
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed…”

That’s how our Declaration of Independence sums up the fundamental purpose of government, and I don’t think anyone has improved upon that description in the intervening 237 years. It is the idea that has guided me in my civic life, as both a private citizen and as a Social Circle Councilman.

Government is the servant of the people. Local government best serves us and secures our liberties when it focuses on its core purposes: ensuring public safety, building and maintaining good streets and roads, keeping taxes and business regulation low, and being a prudent, responsible steward of the city budget.

My Platform as your City Council Candidate and my Vision for our city as your Councilman is to ensure the revitalization of our historic downtown by working with our local appointed authorities and elected officials to further stimulate business growth. In addition, I will continue to be a strong advocate of future industrial and commercial growth along our truck route and the surrounding outside perimeter.

I also plan to spearhead a project that will bring global Wi-Fi internet service to designated areas within our city. The Wi-Fi project will be a collaborative effort between city officials, business owners and local ISPs (Internet Service Providers).

I will ensure our city streets, roads and sidewalks are well maintained.

I will keep your taxes low and reduce them as possible, and I will ensure that our local government is a prudent and responsible steward of your tax dollars.

As your Councilman, I pledge to be approachable and responsive and take the necessary steps to get things done. I am a proven leader, an excellent listener, and an effective communicator. I believe it is critical that I and all of our local government officials keep our citizens well informed about our city and any decisions that are made affecting Social Circle. I believe that there is a perception, or maybe even in some cases a reality, that our government has a "decide and defend" mentality. I want this to never be a perception or a reality and that is why I believe we make better decisions when we engage and involve our community.

A healthy city is one in which residents take charge of their neighborhoods. City government can and should do its part within its legitimate areas of responsibility, but it cannot – and should not – seek to organize and supervise every aspect of community life.

Freedom-based city government and strong neighborhood bonds among Social Circle citizens are the surest formula for making "Georgia's Greatest Little Town" even greater. As the signers of the Declaration knew, life and liberty are the keys to happiness and its pursuit.

Public Safety & Crime
Local government’s first duty is to provide for the safety of its citizens in their homes, in their neighborhoods and on their streets. That means keeping graffiti, gangs, and drugs out of our neighborhoods, and keeping criminals off the street and in jail. In addition, it means it is essential that our policemen, firemen and emergency medical personnel are trained and equipped to keep us all safe. As your Councilman, I commit to providing our police and fire forces with the tools, training and resources they need to successfully perform their jobs.

I will take a proactive approach by working closely with our Public Safety leadership to affirm our department is people-friendly and community-minded and that we maintain a high standard of integrity and provide service with professionalism, compassion and respect.

I will also work to support anti-crime efforts by ensuring the revival of our Neighborhood Watch programs. An active Neighborhood Watch program, with neighbors watching out for each other, can effectively prevent crimes and make us safer in our homes, all while being a fiscally responsible way to increase the safety of our community. Ideally, these groups will achieve more than simply keeping an eye out for each other’s safety, but will be an avenue to grow closer as friends and neighbors. This is important for a strong and healthy community, and also practical concerns such as emergency preparedness. Americans are at their best working together voluntarily to overcome challenges. While I hope we are never challenged by such adversity in Social Circle, I do envision that strong neighborhood watch programs will sow the seeds of an even stronger sense of community among Social Circle residents.

Business and the Economy
As a business owner and Social Circle Councilman, I know from first-hand experience that government doesn’t create economic growth, but it can stifle it.

Opportunity, prosperity and inventiveness spring from the creativity and hard work of individual Americans, and I want to make Social Circle the most job-friendly city in the state – a place where men and women can work hard, start a business, and create jobs. My feeling is that government can help by reducing taxes and regulations.

Revitalizing our downtown district and working with our City and County Development Authorities will be high on my priority list. While not invading privacy, our local government should ensure that ordinances are in place that allow for the beautification of our city while not having too many regulations in place that stifle business and discourage entrepreneurship.

Budget
Problems with government often begin when elected leaders and bureaucrats forget they are spending other people’s money. I have never forgotten that central fact while serving as your Councilman, and that crucial reality will continue to be at the forefront of my mind.

Government has to live within its means. Social Circle residents don’t have the luxury of taxing their neighbors when their finances tighten up. They prioritize their budgets and do without things that aren’t necessities. Government should be no different. I will focus our budget priorities on the city’s fundamental duties.

Infrastructure
Dating back to the founding of our Republic, providing for transportation infrastructure has been a core government responsibility. One of my top priorities will be ensuring that Social Circle has a system of city streets and roads that are modern, well-maintained, and with enough capacity to keep motorists moving. The free-flow of people and goods is essential to a thriving economy and a better quality of life. I want Social Circle residents to be able to spend more time with family and activities and less time in traffic. The completion of our By-Pass is essential to meet this objective. The City of Social Circle has been advised that the anticipated completion date for the second phase of our By-Pass is mid to late 2015. I will make it my business to monitor the progress of the project for timely completion.

I believe city government should work with you to make sure our streets and sidewalks are clean, safe, and kept in good repair. I will look to residents to contact City Hall with reports of badly maintained roads and sidewalks which need repair – and ensure we respond quickly to your concerns.

Parks and Recreation
Parks are jewels in the crown of any city. Parks and recreational opportunities they afford are integral to a city’s sense of community. They are the places where families gather to play and picnic, and where our vital civic and community groups gather and hold events.

Social Circle is fortunate to have several parks and playgrounds, but could certainly benefit by expanding our base as well as providing enhanced care of our existing recreational areas. I will continually search for ways to expand our parkland, while looking for opportunities and economies that allow us to offer residents maximum recreational opportunities within budgetary realities.