Meet the Candidates: Melleny Pritchett

Smyrna’s general election will be held Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2011 and a record 19 candidates are on the ballot. In their words, candidates will be introducing themselves here at Patch. Today, we have Ward 1 City Councilwoman Melleny Pritchett, who is running against John Miller.

Why are you running?

I am still a Mother at heart. I still live in the Ward 1 home where I raised my two, now adult children. That need to create an environment with great parks, shopping and dining, great schools and great entertainment burns even more now with my experience as a councilwoman behind me. I’ve been responsible for every area of City management except Public Safety. I find that the more experienced I get in helping us through challenges, the younger I get in enthusiasm for satisfying citizens and assisting other leaders. With three incumbents not seeking re-election, my wisdom will be a stabilizing force as we progress over the next four years. I very much want to be involved for the next four years and accomplish the many projects that are slowed because of the economic climate.

Describe your education, training and experience that qualify you for this position?

I’ve got a record of work to show for the 10 years I’ve served Smyrna and it continues to grow. As we are in a litigious society where risk management can save you millions, it doesn’t hurt that I’ve worked for two Atlanta law firms in my career. Working in commercial real estate for 14 years gives me understanding of homes, people, and how the infrastructure around them creates community. I’ve dealt with legal descriptions, plats, easements, right-of-way issues, zoning, etc. pertaining to large and small developments. A clear understanding of the issues the council faces everyday and how those issues relate to citizen liberties is crucial. I also worked for the managing partner of a residential real estate law firm for seven years. That gave me direct experience with issues such as liens, quitclaim and warranty deeds. I was the office manager responsible for maintaining the budget, supervising staff, handling and balancing a monthly $25 million escrow account. There’s nothing like serving on your homeowners association to prepare to larger leadership roles. I served on my HOA for 19 years and was president for nine years. When you have served in those ways, you won’t be overwhelmed by the job of making serious decisions that effect income and lives.

What will be your priorities during your term of office and how will you pursue them? (Important Issues in Ward 1 and/or City)

While we are in an economic holding pattern we have a great opportunity to evaluate what we’ve done while inspiring and developing new leaders to be ready for the future. I want Ward 1 to be an attractive gateway into the City of Smyrna. That is why I am pursuing relationships with citizens and corporate partners who are willing to work with us to improve the aesthetics and connectivity of the "parks" and "walking" community along Spring Road. Managing growth and quality development not to exceed capacity is an overarching priority not excluding:

1. Making informed decisions on all issues facing the City and vote for the best outcome. Increase tools and avenues for open communication is important in this regard.

2. Maintaining a constant eye on finances and exploring all options for an efficiently run city.

3. Working to help and better the Cobb County schools that are located in the City of Smyrna. We can do a lot in that regard by joining PTAs like Argyle’s and contributing to the Smyrna Education Foundation. Most people don’t realize that they can join their PTA and influence schools even if they don’t have children. Argyle is having a clean up day on the 30^th and I am planning to be there.

4. Continuing to look at all options regarding traffic and ways to work with the County.

5. Continuing economic development in listening to leaders on how best to bring in and retain more businesses.

6. Working with local business with growth incentives and facilitating bidding on contracts.

7. Listening to all the information presented, and all presenters, and then doing my own fact-finding before I vote. It is not unusual for me to speak with a constituent for an opinion even during a Council session.

What is the city’s biggest challenge and how would you address it?

The economic situation is the number one issue facing Smyrna today. We have lots of projects that were started but have been sitting there with nothing happening. However, as a City we have no control over privately owned property and foreclosed homes. We can only control what we own and how we maintain until the economy begins to show signs of improvement. We must continue to let visitors know and experience that Smyrna is the best choice to live and work in Metro Atlanta. We addressed the budget challenge early. We started cutting our operating budget four years ago when we saw issues on the horizon. Vacant positions that had not been filled were removed. There have been no merit or cost-of-living raises given and we’ve made cuts in all departments. Nonetheless, we were able to put some money in reserves each of those four years in case things got worse. Smyrna's Unrestricted Reserve Account is $13,000,000+. I think that is "good leadership."

How will you engage voters in your district in identifying issues that are important to them and how will you ensure progress is made on these issues?

I am a stickler for accountability and follow through. That starts with engaging truly committed people. In general, I have to bridge information gaps. That requires that I create quick and effective ways to learn what’s important to them, and even faster ways to report what’s going on. Like a good Neighborhood Watch Program, I am interested in Community Champions so to speak to work with me. Those are people who, like I was before joining the Council, are trusted in their neighborhoods and seem to always know what’s going on. Since Court Services is one of my areas of responsibilities, I am especially sensitive to citizens getting to see City Hall in action. I’ve been working with some leaders on some exciting technology methods to increase community engagement and leader identification from all walks of life. The tool will be enhanced by community cafes or focus group sessions. And we will use live Internet forums to increase information access and interaction. Imagine sitting in your living room and engaging in a solution finding discussion rather than some hard chair in a gymnasium

I will still be knocking on doors and speaking with the voters in Ward 1 just as I did in 2001. I will still maintain my direct communication with the HOA presidents by email keeping them informed on issues. I will continue to pick up my phone daily and solve real problems to make communities better.

Due to falling revenue many cities are making tough choices about city services. How would you prioritize the city budget and other financial investments involving tax dollars?

We are fortunate to have actually increased our bond rating during an economic downturn. That’s in part because we managed revenue smartly even when the economy was booming. Our reserve fund, where we store funds for unique opportunities and emergencies, is stronger than most cities. We have had to add a few dollars here and there for certain services because of increased cost to the City. However, we have not had to cut any major services such as police and fire. From my point of view police and fire will always be top priority. As I mentioned earlier, I raised my children here and safety was one of the reasons we’ve stayed. Over the years I’ve become better and better at working with our City Finance Director to bring to us a balanced budget and then I’ve worked with the Mayor and Council to "fine-tune" the final budget. This fine-tuning phase is where I give an extra eye towards making certain citizens are not hurt by shortsighted or unnecessary decisions.

Next year voters will approve or decline a 1-cent sale tax dedicated to transportation infrastructure funding (roads, bridges, pedestrian/bike, and public transit) on a local and regional level. Do you believe this is the best option for Georgia why or why not?

A great community is not only great because of its local government, but also because of its ability to stay connected to and leveraged with other attractive communities. Efficient and effective transportation attracts private sector businesses because employees can commute more easily. Moreover, the pure enjoyment of being able to zip down to the stadiums or entertainment arenas in Atlanta is something that young metro Atlantans will really appreciate. Young professionals like access to Atlanta, and young professionals are good for progressive growth and stability. They may not live north of my area in large numbers, but they will certainly be needed by forward thinking employers seeking an innovative and well-trained staff. Many CEOs do live north of Ward 1 and I am sure they’ll appreciate knowing we are creating quality of life initiatives for them. Like the improved sidewalks and trails connecting us to the mall, public transit connecting us to other amenities deserves attention.

My personal opinion is that with a 1 cent sales tax everyone shares in the costs of the roads, bridges, etc. Most taxes currently are shared 100 percent by property owners in the form of property taxes. I personally believe that is a better option than placing an additional tax burden on homeowners. Roads, bridges, etc will have to be replaced sooner or later. I think everyone sharing is the best plan. When we stop to really look at it, we realize how interdependent we are anyway. We must be willing to invest in intelligent planning.

Where do you see the City 4, 10, 20 years from now?

We’ve got a great future. Look at where we are located. Those projects already completed in the Cumberland area like the Performing Arts Center, and new restaurants at the mall makes Ward 1 ready to pop. Spring Road will be a beautiful gateway into Smyrna with the ideas residents are sharing with me. Quality new restaurants are already beginning to show up with the owners of Social Vinings opening in the previous Folks spot. Longer term, we will see more single family home development return to all of Smyrna. Supporting our schools properly we will attract more and more families who will stay here long-term. The preparation we do now by making informed and tough decisions while solidifying blueprints for future leaders will make us a star City 20 years from now.

I invite those wishing to get more deeply engaged in Ward 1 issues or who simply want to share ideas should check out my Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/mellenyward1. You can also call me at 770-434-2127 or send me a message at

melleny@bellsouth.net.

Let me know if you would like to be a Community Champion.