The nation's mayors send their ideas for Obama

Here are replies from mayors across the nation to the msnbc.com survey on their priorities for President-elect Barack Obama. We asked the mayors to tell us, in 150 words or less, what two items they would put on the new president's "to do" list.

You can also see the responses color-coded by topic on our online map. Here are other suggestions from our readers.

Replies came in from every state except Delaware and New Hampshire.

Alabama

Alabaster, AL
Pop. 28,000
David M. Frings, mayor
The two items that I would like President-elect Obama to add to his to do list are immigration reform and developing a comprehensive energy plan for the United States. Locally, we have problems with businesses employing illegal aliens and often paying on a cash basis. This hurts workers and businesses that want to operate properly and pay the taxes that are due. The energy and fuel issue effects everything in our daily lives from the cost of gasoline to food to heating and cooling our homes. We need a strategy from the top that defines ways to control the cost of energy and reduce the dependency on foreign sources.

Brewton, AL
Pop. 5,680
Ted Jennings, mayor
Americans are problem solvers, and as enormous as many of these problems, we will solve them. My question to the president-elect is how is he going to bring a divided nation together? How is he going to bring civility and respect back into the political arena? And what specific steps he is going to undertake to restore financial stability and confidence in our financial system.

Brundidge, AL
Pop. 2,400
James T. Ramage III, mayor
We hope President-elect Obama will continue the Community Development Block Grant program that is administered by the states. The states have a better indication of the needs of the cities within their borders. The program is competitive among the cities and must have some dollars matched. We have used this program to help keep our infrastructure updated. The program in the past has been aimed at water and sewage projects. This year our state allowed for drainage. The program has always had a element of removing unfit structures. 2. Another program is the money that can be accessed for industrial development that has in the past been assigned to each state. We have used these funds to help locate a Wal-Mart in our community, and we also used the funds at the same time to help our small-businesses' need for water.

Fort Payne, AL
Pop. 15,000
William H. Jordan, mayor
1. Trade issues: Our city used to be called the Sock Capitol of the World. Many of our manufacturing jobs have now gone offshore, creating an economic problem for Fort Payne. We had developed our infrastructure and utilities to match the industrial needs, but they are now underutilized. I would like to see some trade protection against unregulated labor costs. 2. Immigration: Our community had a great influx of Hispanic workers a few years ago, many of them illegal. We had to adjust our schools, housing and social services at considerable cost to accommodate them, and at the same time they were sending a large portion of their wages back to their native countries.

Huntsville, AL
Pop. 175,000
Tommy Battle, mayor
While Huntsville has a diverse and strong economy, basic area infrastructure is still key for any community. To prepare for the growth our area is expecting with BRAC (Defense Base Closure and Realignment Committee) jobs and in our recruitment of industry, I’d like to see the new administration explore federal options with our roads, highways and interstate programs, ensuring that our communities are prepared for further diversification of our local economies. BRAC will be one of the largest impact events in our area’s history, and I’d like to see strong cooperation among local, state and federal departments to make it a success in every way possible.

Mobile, AL
Pop. 198,915
Sam Jones, mayor
Please make sure re-competition for the Air Force's $35 billion refueling tanker contract is judged based upon merits and not political preference. Northrop Grumman Corp., based in Los Angeles, and Airbus SAS parent European Aeronautic, Defence & Space Co. won the 179-plane program in February, but losing bidder Chicago-based Boeing Co. successfully protested the award. U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Sept. 10 delayed the re-bid until the next presidential administration. Mobile has already been selected by Northrop Grumman as the site for manufacturing the refueling tankers. If the competition is judged on merits, we feel certain Northrop would prevail. After all, our military men and women deserve the best. Our city in partnership with Northrop competed fairly for this contract and won. However, something besides merits thwarted the fair competition. We can compete again, but we want it to be fair!

Prattville, AL
Pop. 35,000
Jim Byard, Jr., mayor
1. An issue that is of tremendous importance to my community is the aftermath of illegal immigration. We, as local leaders, cannot solve the national issue of illegal immigration, but we are forced to deal with the aftermath of these illegals in our cities and in our towns. Whatever our stand on the issue, we have to address this issue without the political posturing that happens in Washington. Our constituents expect action from us on illegal immigration regarding policing, schooling, and any other municipal services offered.
2. Disaster response and our collaboration with state and national leaders/agencies is also important. Being that we are the government closest to the people, we should be the lead agency, but we must be able to count on our other partners to do their share.

Alaska

Anchorage, AK
Pop. 265,000
Mark Begich, mayor
1. Adopt a national energy policy. Record high energy prices are hurting America’s families and contributing to the national economic crisis. The U.S. needs a comprehensive national energy policy that calls for more domestic energy production, conservation and development of alternative energy sources. As America’s energy storehouse, Alaska should play a central role in supplying our nation’s energy needs, including the oil and gas beneath the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and development of Alaska’s enormous natural gas reserves.
2. Visit Alaska. As the only state President-elect Obama has not been to, I would urge a visit here to see first hand Alaska’s enormous energy potential and our unmatched natural beauty. Here in a creek that runs through the center of our downtown, I’ll help President-elect Obama catch a King salmon which is as big as his younger daughter, Sasha.

Arkansas

Fayetteville, AR
Pop. 67,158
Dan Coody, mayor
1. Short term: our country's deep financial crisis. 2. Long term: our clean, renewable, sustainable economic/environmental energy future.

Little Rock, AR
Pop. 187,452
Mark Stodola, mayor
1. Neighborhood revitalization: The neighborhoods in our city’s core are in desperate need of investment (perhaps through increased funding of the Community Development Block Grant program). Little Rock Central High School is a national historic landmark with a beautiful museum, but the neighborhood surrounding it provides only scant evidence of the bustling community that was a critical piece of the American Civil Rights movement. 2. More police: No issue is more important to the citizens of Little Rock than public safety. Wilma Marks, a resident of inner-city Little Rock, said she refuses to let drugs take over her neighborhood and she has had great success working with Det. Tim Stankevitz in the Little Rock Police Department's Narcotics Division. With more officers (as provided in the 1994 Biden Crime Law), we could provide broader service to other residents like Ms. Marks.

MORE FROM

Section Front

Obama campaign head gets big book deal Officials turn down Franken request Joe the Plumber to become war correspondent Franken lead at 49 with absentees left to count Minn. Senate winner won't be known in 2008 First Read: 'Twas the seventh week of recount... Franken opens first lead in Minn. Senate race Mom of Palin daughter's boyfriend arrested Minn. court weighs rejected absentee ballots Minnesota panel reviews disputed ballots Section Front   Add headlines to your news reader: