THANK YOU

I would like to extend a very heartfelt thank you to the residents of Helena for trusting me to serve them on the City Council for the next four years.  Although the work on my campaign has ended, my work for the city continues.  I  encourage all residents to reach out to me with your questions, concerns, or comments at any time.  It is because of you I am here for another four years. 

I would also like to congratulate Mike Jones, Cris Nelson, and Leslie Barlett.  I look forward to serving with you and think that together we can do great things in Helena.

Remember to Vote

After several months pounding the pavement, meeting with voters and hearing what you think, it is time for you to decide and most importantly vote. 

Election day is tomorrow so please remember, your vote, every vote counts. I have taken pride in working for you and our city for the last four years and would very much like the opportunity to spend four more years serving you.  

If you are looking for someone that will work hard for you and your interests in our city, then I ask that you please vote for me, Leigh Hulsey, for Helena City Council Place 1. 

Response to al.com

This is incumbent Leigh Hulsey, Helena City Council, Place 1.  I was told about post yesterday morning that I would like to personally respond to.

First of all, I am not now, nor have I ever been a part of any "team pack".  Just as I did 4 years ago, I am running as a candidate for the citizens of Helena – period.  If I am fortunate enough to be re-elected to another term, I can assure you that I will work just as hard for this city and its residents, as I have these past 4 years with whomever our citizens choose to put in to office.    

Finally, I would encourage anyone reading posts or opinions on a forum, blog, facebook, etc. – to please go directly to the source if you want to know a candidate’s position or opinion on a topic.  If I have not had the opportunity to meet or speak with you yet, or you are unfamiliar with my campaign, I encourage you to check out my election campaign Facebook page or blog (web links are below), and if you have questions, please ask me directly. You can message me through either link below or call me directly at 451-2966.  Thank you and please remember to vote, August 28!   

 Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/hulseyforhelena

Campaign blog: http://hulseyforhelena.blogspot.com/

FAQs

Thank you to all that came out to the Meet the Candidate Forum.  I wanted to use my blog to relay and address some of the most frequently asked questions that came up not only at the forum, but also as I have been walking the neighborhoods and meeting with and talking to voters. 

·         How will the council help improve the business development of Old Town Helena?
This has probably been one of the most asked questions/concerns that I have heard.  During my current term on the city council, I have done a lot of due diligence on this topic. Unfortunately there is no simple, short term answer. 

·         Helena does not currently have an active Economic Development Board.  The council is very limited in its power to attract new business.  The creation of an active Economic Development Board with some real power to attract business development would be a big step in improving the business environment in Old Town Helena. 

·         During my current term as a member of the council, I did attend a seminar on small town development and branding and found that there are companies out there that focus on helping small towns like ours develop their business districts.  Of course this is not a free service, so it is something that would have to be given a lot of consideration.  It is my understanding that these companies work hard with the city to work within a reasonable budget based on the revenue and budget of the city.

·         Other issues facing potential new business owners in Old Town Helena is the cost of rent.  Again, unfortunately since most of the real estate is privately owned, there is not a lot the council can to regarding rental rates.   The council certainly encourages property owners to look at the potential for downtown and make their rental rates reasonable to attract new business which would benefit everyone.

 

·         What can be done to elevate some of the traffic congestion particularly on 261/Morgan Road?

·         Once again, this is an issue over which the council holds very little control.  We all agree that there is a lot of congestion, especially in the morning and evening during rush hours.  Plans have been approved to four lane 261/Morgan Road for a number of years, but the issue is that of funding which is controlled by the state and by the county.

·         If I live in one of the more recently annexed subdivisions that is in Jefferson County, can I still vote in the city election even though Helena is in Shelby County?

·         The answer is yes.  As long as you are properly registered you certainly have a voice in the city of Helena and I encourage you to vote.  At the county level you would still vote in Jefferson County.

·         Why do you have two people running against you for Place 1 while Place 5 is unopposed?

·         As the incumbent in Place 1, I chose to run for re-election to the seat I have held for four years.  I am very dedicated to continuing to work for the residents of Helena.  As to why I have two opponents, you would have to contact each of them and ask why they both chose to run against me leaving one seat unopposed. 

As my campaign moves forward, I again encourage and urge you to contact me with your questions and concerns.  I cannot reiterate enough how important it is for me to hear from you, the residents! 
You may call me directly at (205) 451-2955 or email me at auhulsey@gmail.com.

Walking the Walk

As I continue my door to door campaign, my feelings about the residents of Helena have been reinforced.  We live in a wonderful community, surrounded by some great, caring people.  I have thoroughly enjoyed getting out in the neighborhoods and speaking to as many of you as possible, and I am committed to making the city of Helena the best it can be. 

I have learned a lot while serving on the city council, and after talking with many of you, my fellow residents, I know there is still a lot to do.  I urge you to continue to communicate your desires, concerns, and feelings about our city.  I do not take your opinions lightly and if given the opportunity to serve you for the next four years, rest assured, you will be heard.

Meet the Mayoral Candidates

Tonight there is a perfect opportunity for you to get to know the candidates running for Mayor.  A meet and greet and Q&A will be held at Helena Middle School beginning at 6:00pm.  The candidates will be asked to answer a number of questions and expand on their views on issues facing Helena.

As residents, I encourage you all to attend, so that you may hear firsthand what each candidate has to say.  You may find you common ground with one of the candidates that you are not yet familiar, or your desire to vote for the candidate of your choice may be re-enforced.  Regardless of what you learn about the candidates tonight, learning about them in itself is key.

I will be in attendance and would love to talk with you as well.  My door to door campaign is in full swing and I have made the rounds in many neighborhoods and continue to do so.

As always, please feel free to email me at auhulsey@gmail.com or call me at 205-451-2955 with any questions, concerns, or comments you may have.

A Little More About Me

I have talked a lot on this blog about the need to really get to know the candidates for whom you will vote, and especially your local candidates.  That being said, you have seen my platform and I have talked about some of the things that I feel are important to Helena, but I want to now tell you some of the volunteering I have done in our community over the years. 

• Volunteer Coordinator for the Buck Creek Festival
• Member of the PTO
• Planned the Back to School BBQ at Helena Elementary School
• Organized the Silent Auction at Helena Intermediate School's Family Fun Night
• Involved with Helena youth sports

The list goes on.  And I mention these things not to "brag" or ask for a pat on the back, but to show that as a member of the Helena City Council, I feel it is important to really know our community and have open lines of communication.  The job of any city council person is not simply to attend meetings. It is to know the people of Helena and know what they want and represent those views at the meetings.

What better way to accomplish that than to get out and be with the community in several different capacities. 

In an effort to further get to know you, I have started my door to door campaign and will be knocking on doors for the next few weeks.  I hope to get to every neighborhood, but if I miss you, please do not hesitate to email me at auhulsey@gmail.com or call me at (205) 451-2955.