It’s the end of a mayor’s tenure and time for a new face to be elected on Nov. 8. Otis Johnson, mayor of the City of Savannah for the last eight years, has reached the term limit. Johnson will not be eligible to run for another term in the upcoming Municipal Elections.
Running this year are Edna Jackson, Regina Thomas, Ellis Cook, Floyd Adams, Jr., James Dewberry and Jeff Felser. Click on the pictures above to jump to a candidate’s responses.
Each candidate was asked the same series of questions. Some chose to answer all in their entirety while others dismissed some questions. Visit their campaign sites for more information on each candidate.
After four attempts to contact him, Jeff Felser did not respond to requests for an interview.
Editor’s note: All responses are unedited by District staff and appear as they were received via email.
Contact Kenneth Rosen.
What life experiences, besides a background in politics, have shaped the visions you have coming into this year’s election?
“My passion for this election is spawned by my life-long Savannah experience. I was born and grew up in a community near West Broad Street, now MLK Blvd. I lived a public schools, desegregation, community activists, human rights, Savannah State College, people centered life. I have always loved Savannah. Having experienced the heartbeat of this great city for more than 60 years, and always standing up for its people, I am best qualified to fight for jobs growth, crime free neighborhoods, economic expansion, cooperation between public and private sectors and education better than any other candidate.”
How do you feel about social media, and do you think you’re using that to your advantage on your campaign trail?
“Communicating well with all segments of the community is critical to the administration of an effective campaign. I use social media to convey my campaign message. Facebook is my main tool, and I have received great responses from constituents through it. It has been very effective and my team helps me stay on top of it. My events are listed there, as well as developments within the campaign and ways that you can become involved. You can find me at Edna Jackson for Mayor on Facebook.”
What have you done or what policies have you helped to enact for the City of Savannah that has made, in your eyes, a considerable, positive impact?
“I have been involved in numerous projects, both in the public and private sectors. However, my passion is empowering residents and my work with neighborhood associations has garnered the most positive impact. I have helped to bring several conferences to our city, and was heavily involved in Savannah receiving a spot in nonprofit organization KaBOOM!’s 151 designations of “Playful City USA 2011.” I am so grateful for the opportunity to be a person of influence and positive change.”
In what ways do you plan to tighten the belt around the City’s spending?
“I believe that is critical for Savannah to remain fiscally sound. The mayor and council have worked over the past eleven years to ensure that the city operates within a balanced budget. As mayor I will commission energy and use studies of government buildings to aid cost efficiency , retool city government buildings so that they use less energy and cost less to operate, audit city-owned land for possible use, instead of renting office buildings , fast-track SPLOST-funded projects—such as office buildings, police precincts and fire stations—for which sales tax funds have already been collected and push to maintain cash reserves at a level necessary to deal with a public disaster. I believe that it is vitally important to continue quarterly monitoring of the city’s budgets, seeking more efficient spending through cuts, not tax increases.”
What are you doing to appeal to the college community in town?
“First of all, I have a great website that is easily accessible for those who have grown up in the age of the internet. We have turned up the volume on your average candidate page by including several audio features such as interviews and testimonials. We have also created an interactive “Ask Edna” hotline (404-969-2771) where voters can call and leave a voicemail with a question or concern, and I will address it on my website. I think this appeals to the younger, technology-savvy crowd especially. I also plan to address the issues faced by young people today by appointing young adults and college-aged residents to serve on various task forces so they can become involved and take ownership of the growth of this city. My committee is also working to encourage young people’s participation in the election process by making concerted efforts to meet with them specifically so they can address me as a candidate.”
What are your thoughts on the arts in Savannah and the culture that surrounds them?
“Savannah is a haven for arts enthusiasts. Performing and visual arts have made this great city an international vacation attraction. From the great architectural designs to the current creativity and influence of SCAD, this city is a museum of the fine arts. I am especially grateful to SCAD for assisting in the revitalization of downtown Savannah and other areas of the community.”
What words of advice do you have for the students at SCAD who may want to run for local, state or national government in the future?
“One of the most important things any person can do in his or her community is to get involved. The best way to do this is to volunteer. Participate in the projects and activities that help to improve the community. Then, if running for a public office is appealing, the ground work will have been laid at the volunteer level.”
Who are your supporters and funding contributors?
“My supporters are the people of Savannah—they span the entire spectrum of the community. I have received contributions from many individuals throughout the community.”
If elected, do you plan to run for another term following the next four years?
“First, I have to get elected and then over the next four years I will determine that decision.”
What life experiences, besides a background in politics, have shaped the visions you have coming into this year’s election?
1) observing people, their habits and their drive to succeed. 2) Understanding those less fortunate are often overlooked and most importantly, 3) knowing how to treat people.
How do you feel about social media, and do you think you’re using that to your advantage on your campaign trail?
Social Media is a wonderful tool if used properly – I am not taking full advantage of it because what you say can be misconstrued.
What have you done or what policies have you helped to enact for the City of Savannah that has made, in your eyes, a considerable, positive impact?
Local policy or local legislation could not have been passed without the signature of both Senator from Savannah. I helped passed legislation from Housing to bringing funds for our Port. Savannah Impact was one project that the City needed for us to bring funding home – the Trade Center funding and the creation of the Trade Center Authority.
What are you doing to appeal to the college community in town?
I have in the past and currently go to the different institutions of higher learning (and our High Schools) to speak to/with the students either in a lecture pattern or just dialogue with Q/A. I have been a guest lecturer at AASU, SSU, SCAD (by invitation from Mrs. Tandy) – I have interacted and participated at Savannah Tech in workshops for High School Students through Johnson High School Advisory Panel.
What are your thoughts on the arts in Savannah and the culture that surrounds them?
The Arts here in Savannah thanks mostly in part to SCAD – is a part of what makes Savannah unique and attractive. As you know art is a form of creative expression that teaches us more about ourselves than any other cultural experiences.
What words of advice do you have for the students at SCAD who may want to run for local, state or national government in the future?
My advice to anyone having the desire to seek public office is to remain true to your calling. Keep an open mind and be able to work with different people from all walks of life. Negotiations and compromise is a way of life.
Who are your supporters and funding contributors?
You can go to the State Ethics website to see who has given me contributions to my campaign.
If elected, do you plan to run for another term following the next four years?
I will seek a second term.
What life experiences, besides a background in politics, have shaped the visions you have coming into this year’s election?
“As far as life experiencies go, I have worked in the private sector all my life. I will take a business approach when it comes to budgeting city revenues. I have, by virtue of being a former council member and mayor pro tem, participated in sixteen budget sessions. We were able to lower the millage rate almost every year I was on city council. Savannah needs to be run like a business, which has not been the case for the last several years. By that, I mean that we cannot spend more than we take in, and we need to be more efficient in the way we operate. We need new leadership to move our city in a new direction.”
How do you feel about social media, and do you think you’re using that to your advantage on your campaign trail?
“I feel that social media is becoming more and more important in today’s world, and we are taking advantage of this important tool to get our message out to everyone. We have a website( EllisCookForMayor.com) and are employing lots of volunteers to get our voice heard. We are also on facebook and twitter.”
What have you done or what policies have you helped to enact for the City of Savannah that has made, in your eyes, a considerable, positive impact?
“As a member of city council for 16 years, I was apart of a team effort that brought about many positive changes. Among them were many SPLOST ( Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) capital improvement projects. Drainage projects were done in all parts of the city where flooding was a problem. The Ellis Square project was initiated during my tenure. Also the Forsyth Park bandshell, Daffin Park improvements to Grayson Stadium and the surrounding area, three new state of the art fire stations, several new community centers, improvements to our Civic Center and many other projects were completed to improve conditions in the city.”
In what ways do you plan to tighten the belt around the City’s spending?
“I know firsthand, there is a lot of waste in city government, and I believe we can do more with less. We have a bloated city budget, and this needs to be addressed immediately. Some higher level city salaries are out of line with other cities our size. We will conduct an analysis of salaries from top to bottom and make adjustments as needed. Efficiency is the key, and we will eliminate waste wherever we find it. A perfect example of eliminating waste is by going to an E-agenda, which would save the city thousands of dollars a year in paper costs alone. We implemented this at the Metropolitan Planning Commission(MPC) in 2007 as a cost saving measure, and this could easily be done at city hall.”
What are you doing to appeal to the college community in town?
“We are reaching out to college students to get involved in our campaign, because these are the future leaders of our great and beautiful city. Many of our volunteers are college students.”
What are your thoughts on the arts in Savannah and the culture that surrounds them?
“I have lived in Savannah most of my life, and cannot begin to tell you what an impact SCAD has had on this community. Not only in the arts, but in the vast renovation of the downtown area. I have witnessed the downtown come alive through the efforts of the SCAD community. The Savannah Film Festival is just one case in point of what SCAD has done for the arts in Savannah. Our administration will take a more active role in partnering with SCAD in its artistic efforts.”
What words of advice do you have for the students at SCAD who may want to run for local, state or national government in the future?
“Local politics is a great way for anyone to get involved in shaping the future of Savannah and we would welcome students to get involved in our efforts. Also serving on city boards and commissions is a great way to be a part of what goes on in our city.I would like to see more young people taking part in city government.”
Who are your supporters and funding contributors?
“Our supporters come from all walks of life, all parts of the city, and all races.We have a very diverse volunteer base who are working for the betterment of all of our citizens. The business community has been most supportive of our aims and ideas to bring our city together for the benefit of everyone. We have had contributions as little as $5.00 and as large as $1,000.00 from every segment of the population which is very encouraging.”
If elected, do you plan to run for another term following the next four years?
“As you will see in my platform, I pledge not to seek a second term if elected. I want to see younger, innovative leaders step up and have a hand in continuing to move our city forward. I believe there is a lot of talent that we need to tap into right here in Savannah.”
What life experiences, besides a background in politics, have shaped the visions you have coming into this year’s election?
“My father and mother instilling lasting positive values of giving back to the community have shaped the visions that I have coming into this year’s election. In observing the disconnection between city council and the community as well as the other candidates vying for the position I stepped up to the challenge because of my lack of confidence in their ability to represent and unify the city.”
How do you feel about social media, and do you think you’re using that to your advantage on your campaign trail?
“Social media is the trend of this era. Everyone either has a laptop or PDA device that allows them to foster open communication networks globally via facebook, twitter, skype, etc. I have a facebook and a webpage that has allowed me to reach the vast community in an efficient and timelier manner. floydadamsformayor.com”
What have you done or what policies have you helped to enact for the City of Savannah that has made, in your eyes, a considerable, positive impact?
“Just to name a few I reduced city taxes from 1996-2004, started the flood eratification program, I also appeared in a SCAD ad saying “Thank God for SCAD” to gain acceptance while creating a positive image for the college. Other accomplishment can be found on my brochure as wel as my website floydadamsformayor.com”
In what ways do you plan to tighten the belt around the City’s spending?
“I plan to tighten the belt around the City’s spending by looking at the delivery of service to the community and see whether or not it can be done in an efficient manner then decide on how to adjust the budget.”
What are you doing to appeal to the college community in town?
“I have been extended many invitations to forums, banquets, social events and I’m always easily accessible to answer any questions that they may have. As mayor, I would like for companies to take interest in our college communities by offering internships that can create a life for them here in Savannah after college. We have great institutions here in Savannah but after graduation the students either returns back home or get job offers out of state.”
What are your thoughts on the arts in Savannah and the culture that surrounds them?
“I’m very supportive of the arts and it’s culture here in Savannah. The diversity of the art forms in Savannah appeal to everybody although they may be interpreted in different perspectives. Music, film, paint, ceramics, metalwork, poetry are just some of the art forms that attract many tourist to Savannah every year.”
What words of advice do you have for the students at SCAD who may want to run for local, state or national government in the future?
“For those who may want to run for political office in the future my advice to you is to know why you are running, have a strong support system and to be in touch with your constituents. In politics you must be able to network effectively and be proactive in expressing various opinions.”
Who are your supporters and funding contributors?
“My supporters and funding contributors are personal friends, family and The Committee to elect Floyd Adams Mayor.”
If elected, do you plan to run for another term following the next four years?
“I will evaluate those plans at a later time”
What life experiences, besides a background in politics, have shaped the visions you have coming into this year’s election?
“I have no background in politics!!! I am the only candidate in this race who has not held any elected position. The least experienced of the incumbents has 8 years in elected office. This is my second run as mayor of Savannah. The enormous waste, abuse and mismanagement of tax payer dollars along with the decline in perceived safety of the citizens have motivated me to make a stand for the future of Savannah. I have witnessed terrible allocations of tax payer dollars that will never benefit anyone and decided the only hope of improving things in this city was to run for elected office.”
How do you feel about social media, and do you think you’re using that to your advantage on your campaign trail?
“This is my third campaign having run once previously for mayor and also county commission chairman so through this experience I can tell you that social media has never been key to any of those races. This election might be different but in the past, most interest in candidates is generated by community organization meetings that host candidates along with the news media, TV and news print.”
What have you done or what policies have you helped to enact for the City of Savannah that has made, in your eyes, a considerable, positive impact?
“I came into the public light by protesting the use of local tax dollars being used to promote out of town business and industry. Many of these promotions were to the detriment of local businesses and workers. How many SCAD students have the time or inclination to drive 40 miles round trip for a part time job in the design field? That is exactly what happened here. Local tax dollars were used to promote out of town media production companies which took opportunities away from Savannah businesses. Losing business to others out of town meant that there were fewer jobs for local companies to hire local designers and production help. My belief is that local students would prefer to work for a local company rather than drive out of town or out of state for gaining experience in their field of study.
“The current administration disallowed those between 18-20 years of age to enter clubs and music venues in Savannah. As a teenager growing up in Savannah and also playing in a SCAD band I was able to play in any music venue in town. Today’s students do not have this option. Through the actions of this city council clubs that allowed 18 and over are a thing of the past. I hope to remove these measures that prevent well behaved 18-20 year old students from enjoying Savannah venues.
“Through the actions of this city council, students can no longer simply approach a restaurant or club manager in hopes of getting a job without first being trained through a city program. Savannah now has bar cards and unless you jump through all of the hoops and pay the fees that the city requires you have no hope of getting a job at a club or restaurant. I hope to remove these measures that are a barrier to employment of SCAD students.
“Through the actions of this administration, business owners are prevented from smoking in their own establishments. This extends to all businesses. Even though smoking is a terrible habit, this habit should not be regulated by the city but instead by business owners. Business owners know what is best for their establishments. If the business operator knows that karaoke night is good for business then they should not be restricted. If the business operator knows that smoking is bad for their business then they should do what is best for their business. The truth is, some clubs enjoyed a large percentage of patrons who had the habit of smoking and as a result of this city council’s actions suffered losses as a result of those actions. My belief is that the city should allow businesses to set their own smoking policies as businesses have always had the right to restrict smoking all along. There are examples where clubs who restricted smoking on their own went back later on to allow smoking in response to the patron wishes before the smoking ban went into effect. Finally, there are many who argue drinking is more harmful than smoking.”
In what ways do you plan to tighten the belt around the City’s spending?
“In my last run for mayor I pledged to have a top to bottom review of every department and program to eliminate wasteful spending. This was a proactive measure in 2007. Since then, the city has only looked at cutting costs in response to lower revenues. Millions are being wasted each year on non essential expenditures and my promise is to eliminate wasteful spending so that essential service needs are met without asking the tax payers for more of their hard earned dollars.”
What are your thoughts on the arts in Savannah and the culture that surrounds them?
“Our arts community is very strong and vibrant. Savannah is a beautiful setting for any and all things art and will always be an attractive locale for artists and consumers of art.”
What words of advice do you have for the students at SCAD who may want to run for local, state or national government in the future?
“I hope the students of SCAD will become more involved with government by running for office. Many of the problems we enjoy today are the result of inaction by the citizens. Know the issues, know your community and know your heart. I believe the success of a candidate or politician is not how many votes they receive but what it is in their hearts that motivates them to truly serve the public to make a positive difference in the lives of those in their communities. Sadly and for too long, citizens have voted for election signs and tv ads instead of the actual issues and abilities of the candidates. My wish is for the electorate to really get to know the issues and candidates. Once folks understand the issues then they will naturally seek out the best candidate.”
If elected, do you plan to run for another term following the next four years?
“Absolutely”
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