Q&A With Peachtree Corners City Council Candidate David Proud

Peachtree Corners Patch asked the 20 candidates for the six council seats on the new Peachtree Corners City Council a series of questions relating to city government for the upcoming Municipal Election on March 6, 2012.

Each of the candidates were asked the same set of questions. The last question we posed was to ask each candidate ask and answer his or her own question and provide the answer.

Patch introduces David Proud, one of four candidates seeking to fill the council seat for Post 3.

 

Name: David J. Proud, age 34

Lived in Peachtree Corners: I have lived and worked here since 2002.  I also lived here as a child from 1985-1988 with my parents who were educators in the school system and attended elementary school at Berkeley Lake  

Educational background: Rome High School, Rome, Georgia, Southern Polytechnic State University

Military background: N/A

Family: I am happily married to my wonderful wife Mira.

Occupation: System Administrator

What experience in your background do you think has best prepared you for serving on the Peachtree Corners City Council?

 I served as president of my 228 home HOA from 2006 to 2010 and currently serve as vice-president. In 2008 while serving as president of Wyntree HOA, I discovered $16,000 worth of improper billing from Georgia Power for Wyntree street lighting dating as far back as 1998. 

After I raised the question with Georgia Power, they only wanted to reimburse Wyntree for only 3 years of the overpayment. Considering the length of time and the large amount of money owed to Wyntree, I fought for my community by filing a complaint with the Georgia Public Service Commission. As a result, Georgia Power finally paid to our community the full $16,000 of improper billing.

Under my leadership our HOA has never passed any special assessments, and it has no debt and a well funded reserve.

Our community streets were in much disrepair and had been neglected for years. I worked diligently communicating with our county officials and wrote many letters to The Gwinnett DOT from 2006 to 2011 to get our streets resurfaced which DOT finally completed in 2011.

Recognizing the unsightly litter on Peachtree Industrial, I organized a community Trash Pickup Day to pick up trash along the roadway. We had a good turnout and a successful cleanup.

I have always fought hard to have the voices of residents in my community heard by our county leaders. I will fight just as hard for your voice to be heard by our new city leaders. I will be a good steward with your money.  I would be ‘Proud’ and honored to serve as your City Councilman.

Tell Peachtree Corners readers about your vision for the new city and how you would accomplish it?

I envision an efficient city administration that is open and transparent in the daily management of the affairs of its citizens. To accomplish this I will diligently study details of its operations and expenditures. I will share my findings and concerns with all citizens and actively seek their suggestions and comments. I will be respectful to the mayor and other council members, but will pursue with vigor good stewardship of the people's money.

My vision for the new city of Peachtree Corners includes:

• A city that learns from the history of its neighbors and makes wise decisions.
• A representative city that listens to its people.
• A city that has a planning and zoning policy that respects the rights of its citizens.
• A city that enforces its rules and codes quickly, efficiently and equally.
• A city that is clean with beautiful litter free streets.
• A city that has boundaries which clearly define it and make it a desirable place to live.
• A city that has a unique and prosperous culture which is preserved and respected.
• A city that has a Mayor and Council who operate transparently and efficiently.
• A city that is united in reaching all areas of Peachtree Corners to better the quality of life for all its citizens.
• A city that is a model for other cities to emulate.

 This vision can be achieved through diligent work by the City Council and its Mayor to insure fiscal responsibility and open communication. There must be frequent and competitive bidding on its services, regular audits and reviews of city books, and annual meetings to solicit public comments.  Citizens must be vigilant in keeping our elected officials focused on why we voted to become a city.  I believe with a humble city government who listens to her people we can achieve my vision of Peachtree Corners.

What do you think is the greatest challenge facing Peachtree Corners, and how would you approach it?

I think our biggest challenge will be keeping the city limited in its authority and reach as set forth in its charter. This can be done by using its limited power to provide only essential services. This will help keep property taxes in check and protect the freedom of its citizens. 

If you look at the cities that surround us, the millage rates are high due to overreach of government services and poor planning for unforeseen events.  These cities will continue to face economic challenges as declining revenue from property values come in.  Make no mistake about it, we will face the same challenges.  However, if we keep our city as limited and efficient as possible we should be able to keep property taxes low. 

The beautiful thing about Peachtree Corners' charter is that the millage rate is capped at 1.00. Anything higher than that requires referendum approval.  Keeping the city as a limited government is both the responsibility of the council and the citizens of Peachtree Corners. We have a limited city, but can we keep it?  Both the citizens and the council will answer that question.

Congressional approval is at an all time low, people feel helpless and have lost faith in government, and they do not feel as though their voices are heard. How will you instill trust in the new council?

Congressional approval is low because Congress has forgotten or has refused to listen to the American people. I believe in America. While no perfect government exists on earth, we have the best. I believe in the Constitution and the ideas that created it.

It is not our system that has failed but the people who we elect to serve us. It is our responsibility to select leaders who are knowledgeable about our founding and who share the same values of limited government and the crucial idea that its citizens are the source of its powers.  America is the best country on earth. 

I am a 'Proud' American because I believe the people can and will restore her greatness. I have faith that the people in Peachtree Corners will elect honest, responsible, and respectful individuals to City Council. As your Councilman I will do everything I can to make sure that not only your voice will be heard but that it will be respected, and that your trust in government will be restored at a local level.

For more information visit www.davidproud.com