My Response to Greenlaw's "Agenda"

It's taken nearly two months for my opponents to publish an agenda. Recently, Mary Katherine Greenlaw finally replaced the two-month old "coming soon" placeholder within the "issues" section of her campaign website — but with a list of her positions on the issues that largely lack specific details.  

For example, when it comes to expanding tourism, Greenlaw writes, "it is time to get beyond lip service" indicating she will "bring people together to get this done." Greenlaw repeatedly cites working together and relays she will "work to" accomplish the goals we all share, but provides very little details of what this work will actually entail or specifics of how it will get done.

Who doesn't support "bringing people together?" In fact, I do this every week at the church I'm on-staff at (fairviewatriverclub.com); however, what's lacking are the actionable details. Greenlaw provides very little regarding how she will change the way she and City Council have led the city during the past four years.  

Regarding economic development, as another example, Greenlaw writes she will "work closer with the EDA to expand upon the tools that we have to assist existing business and attract new: technology zones, tourism zones, the arts and cultural district and more attractive economic incentive packages" [sic].  Voters will surely want to know, what does "working closer" entail? Also, how will the tools the city has in place be expanded? 

Thus, Fredericksburg requires a level of follow through that has been lacking on City Council. The specifics I provide regarding how I will utilize these tools differentiates me from my two opponents. As explained in the my agenda, which can be found on my website paxsonformayor.com, the city has not utilized these zones to their full capacities while my two opponents served on City Council.  

I provide detailed examples and specific locations of where expansion of these zones will occur, along with who will be targeted upon such expansion. One example from the published agenda includes instituting a new technology zone at the Blue Gray Pkwy. and Belman Rd. intersection, a site I believe is ripe for locating a government contractor or business whose door he will personally knock on and visit. This demands follow-through; the existence of a zone and strong incentives by themselves do nothing. That is why, as Mayor, I will take action and personally put the opportunities we generate in front of the prospective businesses we target.

Another example of the kind of "lip service" Greenlaw decries is included in her statement that she will, "work to achieve separate funds to support the arts, historic preservation and environmental sustainability." Greenlaw does not include or provide any details of how these separate funds will actually be generated, where they will come from or how they will be specifically utilized to support these priorities.  

All the while, I have provided precise details of the specific actions I will take and where the financing will come from to accomplish these same priorities and to achieve success.  

Greenlaw also writes she will support City Council's imprudent decision to build a new courts facility on prime real estate downtown. The bloated project is proposed to cost voters twice what Spotsylvania just paid for a new courts facility that serves a population more than five times the size of Fredericksburg's population.  I, however, believe voters need to be reminded, point-by-point, why this is such a boondoggle and egregious waste of taxpayer money.

To read a detailed agenda with specific actions and initiatives spelled out for voters' consideration, visit paxsonformayor.com.