Chuck

Lehman hopes that for this campaign season, a sign of the

times will be "no signs."

Lehman

threw down the gauntlet Monday morning during a press

conference at his home, challenging his opponents to

agree not to put up political yard signs, which he said

are "tacky" and lead to "clutter."

"I am

asking that my opponents pledge not to put up yard signs

and I won't either," he said. "However, if I

don't hear from them by Sept. 21, I will have no other

choice but to put up signs as well."

While

claiming that no single candidate really benefits from

the usual proliferation of yard signs, if one candidate

agreed not to use them and another used them anyway,

there would be an unlevel playing field.

"Peachtree

City is a unique community, the beauty of which we all

enjoy," he said.

According

to Lehman, the city permits the use of political yard

signs for three weeks during election season.

Lehman laid

out his positions on other issues during his presentation

Monday, with a continued emphasis on his contention that

he would be a "full-time councilman."

He promised

to continually monitor development in the city, saying

that he would be on-site at the start of many projects to

ensure that developers follow city directives relating to

their approved plans.

Saying that

the traffic on Ga. Highway 54 west "has become close

to gridlock at specific time periods," he offered

that the best solution is to slow down development in the

area.

"Since

we are not able to improve the road network in the area

until 2008, we have to be proactive and make hard

decisions," he said, referring to the delay caused

improvements. "These decisions include carefully

quantifying traffic congestion impact prior to approving

site development."

He said

that the new Avenue shopping center now under develompent

at City Circle will increase the traffic problem, and he

brought up the recent application for a Wal-Mart

superstore and Home Depot on Hwy. 54 across from

Planterra Way (see story on Page 1A).

Lehman said

he believes annexation should be considered only "if

it is favorable to all residents and contributes to the

vision of what Peachtree City is all about and not for

the convenience and sole economic benefit of those

requesting annexation."

He added

that he is not in favor of extending the sewer system

outside the city, saying that the infrastructure should

be improved for the benefit of the residents who are

already using it.

Lehman

wants to "formalize" communication between the

city and the school system, as well as with other cities

and the county government.

"I

will be resident- and environment-friendly," he

said. "I will be in contact with residents that may

be affected by a council decision."

In addition

to the issues of the campaign, Lehman commented on the

voting situation, specifically the at-large system and

projected voter turnout.

He said

that the city has outgrown the at-large system, where all

residents will vote for all candidates in all posts. He

said that the time has come for each seat on the council

to represent a specific area.

He lamented

the poor turnout of 1997, when only 3,300 out of 18,000

registered voters came to the poll despite the mayor's

seat being at stake and many important issues on the

burner. He said that only 1,900 voted in the runoff for

the seat eventually won by Carol Fritz.