City Council Candidate Cullen Jackson Thanks Voters, Discusses Plans To Improve Grambling
TO GRAMBLING CITIZENS AND GSU STUDENTS,
I would like to thank each of you who voted for me in the primary October 2nd election. All of the hard work devoted to this campaign if elected, is to help improve the quality of life for Grambling citizens. Your vote of confidence has enabled me to participate in a run-off election on November 2nd.
As I said before, running for City Council was not an easy decision, but it’s been well worth it. It’s not what Grambling can do for me, but what I can do for the citizens of Grambling.
For those of you who are still considering who to vote for, I’d like to reiterate that my leadership experience as a school principal, supervisor, American government teacher, public relations, director/management of federal fund will suit you well on the Grambling Council.
As Director of federal funds for Claiborne Parish School Board I have managed millions of dollars with a perfect audit. I bring 32 years of educational experiences, management of millions of dollars in federal grants, budgeting, audit evaluation, entrepreneurship, common sense and vision to this service.
I am prepared to explore the feasibility of districting Grambling which means that each Council Member will become a steward over equally divided community districts.
Not only will there be less political in-fighting, we will be able to serve you better and become more accountable to the citizens. The citizens of each district can measures our effectiveness as Council Members individually.
I also want to put a stop to outrageous municipal spending. Tens of thousands of our tax dollars have been spent for lawsuits, attorneys fees, increased salaries, and Special Called Meetings in the past two years.
The City Council increased their salaries to $700.00 and received an additional $350.00 each for over twenty Special Called Meetings, but could not afford a recreation program for our children or scheduled trash pickups.
Grambling is a distinct city with incredible opportunities and potential for growth and development, and it’s time to restore our dignity. We need to strengthen our relationship with Grambling State University and utilize their expertise whenever possible.
As your Council Member I will work hard to help keep our taxable revenues here in Grambling by accommodating the University’s 5,000 students as part of our economic development strategy.
I will seek avenues to provide student internship experience within our city and provide jobs. We need to explore the feasibility of building retirement/ health facilities in Grambling for our senior citizens and recreation programs for our children.
Developing of our infrastructure such as providing City sewage on College Avenue and throughout Grambling will be a priority.
Our city needs to employ a grant writing expert who will develop an economic task force for strategic long and short range planning that consists of business persons, Grambling State University business department, chamber of commerce, students, council members, and private citizens.
Transparency and accountability are tantamount to growth and development. Our citizens have a constitutional right to be informed, to receive, to request and to examine all public documents. If something is wrong with water, we need to know immediately by radio, television, or internet and not one month later by mail.
Another problem I plan to address is how Grambling provides police officers with academy training who end up being hired by other cities because our salaries are too low. In order to keep police officers and city workers here in Grambling, their salaries should be comparable to their skills and experience.
I am excited about the possibility of being able to serve the constituents of Grambling. I’ve enjoyed meeting and talking with you during my campaign, hearing your concerns about the current state of affairs in Grambling’s leadership and the direction you’d like to see Grambling go.
When I am elected to the Grambling Council I will work diligently with the Mayor and members of the City Council to advance the positives of our community.
My educational background includes the following: Carroll High School graduate, Bachelor of Science in social studies from Grambling State University, Master of Arts from Louisiana Tech University, Master Plus 30 from the University of Louisiana at Monroe, GSU and Tech.
I retired from Claiborne Parish School Board as a teacher, Librarian, assistant principal, principal and supervisor of federal programs.
I am a member of the Louisiana Education Association, Grambling Retired Teachers, Omega Psi Phi/Phi Tau Fraternity. I have been married to Annie E. Hewitt Jackson for 46 years and the father of 3 children.
I ask that you let me serve you by giving me your vote and support in this run-off election on Tuesday November 2, 2010. Vote #126 for change in Grambling.
Yours Truly,
Cullen Jackson-City Council Candidate, Grambling, Louisiana
2010 Grambling City Council Candidate Mr. Cullen Jackson
the Fount 2010 Candidate Profile -Mr. Cullen Jackson – Grambling City Council
