The nation's mayors send their ideas for Obama

Safety Harbor, FL
Pop. 17,203
Andy Steingold, mayor
The citizens of Safety Harbor would want to know what our president elect is going to do about our health care crisis and our economic situation. There are many who go without insurance benefits and yet do not qualify for public assistance who ultimately seek out health care in our emergency rooms. There are those who are losing jobs or just do not make enough to cover there basic household costs due to costs of consumer goods increasing across the board without any increase in salary/wage to meet those financial demands.
I am also certain that our citizens would like to know when this war will be won or be brought to an end.

Seminole, FL
Pop. 18,754
James G. (Jimmy) Johnson, mayor
1. The economy. The small business segment of our society is experiencing extreme difficulty. Taxes are out of site, business is slow, productivity is low. Highest and best use is being applied especially in Florida. The average small business has less than 9 employees. Many are family operated and have low overheads. We must help them with reduce taxes and benefits, especially insurance and retirement. All the situations are solvable, we must move ahead.
2. Medical insurance. What an expense. Relief must be given to the poor. Hospitals and doctors must be subsidized. The solution is to gather several business owners of all sizes, brainstorm, discuss, and come up with solutions.

South Miami, FL
Pop. 10,741
Horace Feliu, mayor
1. A quick end to the war in Iraq so that we may concentrate on "Country First."
2. Our economy with green technology.

Stuart, FL
Pop. 14,633
Jeff Krauskopf, mayor
1. Stop the spending.
2. Press "Big Sugar" to clean up the Everglades.

Tampa, FL
Pop. 303,447
Pam Iorio, mayor
1. We need to invest in America's infrastructure. Tampa is the country's 55th largest city and it has enormous needs for modern water and wastewater pipes as well as new drainage systems. If the $150 billion stimulus package passed last year had gone to cities to improve their infrastructure we would have meaningful job creation and productivity throughout our nation.
2. Mass transit. Tampa is planning an extensive light-rail system and we hope to go to referendum in 2010. We will need federal support to build the system. There is not enough money in the federal budget to support new efforts and help cities that have aging systems. Our nation should have the most modern transit systems in the world. This is an investment that will pay economic and environmental dividends for decades to come.

Treasure Island, FL
Pop. 7,450
Mary Maloof, mayor
The economy and our educational system.

Venice, FL
Pop. 17,764
Ed Martin, mayor
1. I would ask him to give a priority to stimulate the economy through infrastructure improvement, development or renewable energy, etc., creating jobs as well. Some things long overdue.
2. Tie between provide health care opportunity to approximately 50 million Americans and implement a withdrawal plan for our troops in Iraq.

Georgia

Athens-Clarke County, GA
Pop. 112,000
Heidi Davison, mayor
1. Educational programs such as Early Head Start and Head Start have proven to be effective in preparing children for success in school. A greater investment in both programs, particularly for low-income children, would have positive long-term effects. With a 31% poverty rate, being addressed by our community initiative OneAthens, education is critical in breaking this cycle.
2. Infrastructure, particularly funding for commuter rail and other alternative transportation, is critical. The "Brain Train," a commuter rail linking Athens to Atlanta and the institutions of higher learning within that corridor, would address challenges such as air/water pollution and economic development linkages. Transit, pedestrian, and bicycling infrastructure would also address air/water pollution, traffic congestion, obesity, mobility for citizens of all ages and needs, while reducing maintenance and operational costs of the road system.

Augusta-Richmond County, GA
Pop. 199,750
David 'Deke' Spencer Copenhaver, mayor
1. I believe that the president should establish a strong working relationship with local governments from day one by putting in place a local government liaison to receive input in a direct and unfiltered manner from local officials who deal directly with the needs of citizens on a daily basis.
2. Simplifying and clarifying the decision-making process concerning interaction between the federal government and local governments is also a must. Augusta was informed last year by FEMA that we must have our levy certified in order to maintain our current flood zone status. We were then informed that the Corps of Engineers, the builders of the levy, could not certify it. A year later, the Corps informed us that for $600,000 they could inspect the levy and let us know what steps to take to have it certified. A clear path forward is difficult to develop under these circumstances.

Fitzgerald, GA
Pop. 8,758
Gerald H. Thompson, mayor
1. Stop Iraqi War. To save 10 billion monthly.
2. Set an energy policy and mandate its compliance, including clean coal electric generation. My city has its own electric distribution system and we are part of the Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia with 50 governments who own generation and transmission in partnership with the Rural Electric and Georgia Power. That partnership is applying for permits for two generation units at our nuclear Plant Vogel. These units will not produce before 2019 or 2020, so we need clean coal now to keep up with the energy requirements. We need to mandate fuel efficiency on automobiles if we are going to assist the auto companies financially. If we would discipline ourselves and become energy independent from the Middle East our country would be more secure, and if we would stop the Iraqi War we could put our country on a firm foundation.

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