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The second-place candidate in the primary wants to have another debate. Perhaps there was something he forgot to say in the previous debate. Not many people showed up for the previous debate.
There is no better way to reach the citizens than using The Citizen so I will offer some of the debate points from the previous one here. You will find there are some significant differences between me, Clint Holland for Post 3, and Mr. Crane who came in second.
By the way, The Citizen did a fantastic job of asking us questions and allowed for thorough answers that they are still on the website at https://thecitizen.com/2022/10/16/something-to-like-about-something-to-wonder-about-with-all-5-peachtree-city-post-3-council-candidates/.
Voters will easily see by reading the answers on The Citizen website that there are some significant differences between my opponent and myself. I will offer a few of those differences here to appease my concerned opponent. He can reply if necessary.
Anywhere I go in Peachtree City the 54/74 intersection is a major complaint. Mr. Crane said, “I’m not positive there is a true resolution for 54/74.” I do not have to say he is ambivalent on the issue, as he said it himself.
The main point for me is the City Council has done almost nothing to come up with a 54/74 intersection solution. Mr. Crane has been on the city’s Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax appropriation committee for years and they never try to tackle the intersection.
The two intersecting highways belong to the state government, and they need to pay the lion’s share of the solution. I think the moderate overpass option has merit and we need to work with our state legislators on walking a proposal up to the Georgia Department of Transportation. The residents are begging that we do something to fix the problem.
The state government knows there is a problem and have tried to get away with proposing a small modification that will not solve anything. It is time to start pushing forward.
The voters can choose from a distinct difference of philosophy on taxes between candidates in the runoff. We are all burdened with higher prices and steep inflation with the Federal Reserve saying interest rates will climb even higher.
I opposed the unnecessary tax increase, and the city government was able to roll the millage rate back this year but refused to do it. My opponent said, “I agree with the decision to not roll back the millage rate this year.” He said maybe next year.
The voters also have a distinct difference in philosophy on building more multi-family apartments in any format. I am going to throw the yellow flag and call Mr. Crane for a “political double-speak” penalty. At one point he said, “I will vote against building multi-story apartments in the city,” but then he later proposes, “I would like to see some business lofts as a form of mixed-use in the city.”
My opponent cannot have it both ways. He wants to build apartments over retail stores and divert heavily from our traditional planning. He tries to convince us that the dentist who rents the retail space wants to live above the practice, or that the insurance agent with a wife and three kids will live in the apartment above the retail office. We all know that is not going to happen. Calling apartments “lofts” does not make them any less of a multi-family apartment complex.
My position is very clear. I will vote “no” on any type of multi-family units as we have more than enough now. I am opposed to the recent efforts to urbanize Peachtree City.
The Citizen asked the candidates if we would vote in favor of removing the recent changes to the city’s Comprehensive Plan that allow the construction of multi-story apartment complexes all over the city. The best response Mr. Crane could come up with was, “There were a lot of changes to the City’s Comprehensive Plan. Some I agree with and others I do not.” He offered a vague reply that was the furthest thing from a decisive position the voters would want.
My position is very clear on this one too. I will vote to reverse the changes in the Comprehensive Plan that allow the construction of more multi-story residential complexes. I was appointed to serve on the Comprehensive Plan Committee, and I firmly objected to the methodology used by the city to arrive at the far-fetched conclusion that more multi-story apartment complexes are needed or desired.
There is a significant difference between candidates, no doubt.
I hope I can count on your vote during early voting, November 28 – December 2, or Election Day on December 6. I appreciate you and I appreciate the special community we have in Peachtree City.
Clint Holland
Candidate for City Council Post 3
Peachtree City, Ga.
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