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.

 

Opportunity

I want to thank all of you that have reached out to me with your questions, concerns, and general comments about what is important to you as a resident of Helena.  Talking to the members of the community is one of the best parts of my job as your representative on the city council. 

I encourage you to continue to contact me via email at auhulsey@gmail.com or by telephone at (205) 451-2955.  My door to door campaign will begin on July 30th, and I plan to visit as many neighborhoods and individuals as possible. 

You will also have the opportunity to visit with me and all those running for council on Sunday, August 5th 1:00-4:00pm at La Reunion.  This is a great forum for our citizens to meet all of the candidates and ask questions and get feedback and most importantly to get to know us a little better.

My goals for Helena are:

Continue aggressive pursuit of opportunities to move economic development   forward

Cut frivolous spending from our budget

Achieve total transparency in our city government and activities

Revitalize collaborative approach between the community and the city to improve our parks and recreational infrastructure

Continue efforts to support improvements in our schools and development through active partnership with local leadership and county officials

Work collaboratively with city, county and state officials on improving existing roadways and infrastructure

All of these are achievable goals, but it takes both leadership and the citizens of Helena working together to make them happen.  I hope to see you on August 5th!

Tell Me What YOU Think

My last two blogs have focused on the importance of you getting to know your local municipal candidates.  That being said, I want to encourage you to contact me with any questions, concerns or ideas you may have about my role as your council representative, or your city government.

Although I have goals for making our great city even better, at the end of the day, I do not have my own agenda for Helena.  My agenda continues to be YOUR agenda, and things that are important to you are my primary focus.   The Helena City Council is here to serve the citizens of Helena - period.   

While I have always worked (and will continue to work) very hard to promote unity and collaboration among my fellow council members and the mayor’s office, my record over the last four years demonstrates my ongoing commitment to the people of this great city.  I refuse to simply go with the flow, if the flow is not what the citizens want, or feel is best for our community.  As uncomfortable as this has been in the past, it is my duty as your city council representative to continue to ensure your voice and opinion matters. 

So, again, please let me hear from you!  Send me a personal email at auhulsey@gmail.com.  Message me on Facebook, or call me at (205) 451-2955.   Finally, I or a member of my team will be out in your neighborhood very soon, which is another opportunity for you to share your ideas and suggestions, and allow me the privilege to hear from you in person. 

The bottom line is I want to continue to serve YOU and I believe that communication and transparency is key.

Scary Times for Municipalities

As citizens of Helana, we all have seen the fall out in Jefferson County and what can happen to a municipality when there is a lack of oversight and control.  This is not just a problem in our own back yard, it is a nationwide problem.  In the last 2 months we have seen stories and headlines that illustrate this:

Faced with a crippling cash flow problem and divided political leadership, one of Pennsylvania's largest cities distributed paychecks last week to city workers that cut wages to the legal minimum.  Scranton's 398 city workers -- including firefighters, police officers and the mayor himself -- were paid a reduced rate of $7.25 an hour.

Bills unpaid and accounts approaching empty, California’s San Bernardino chooses bankruptcy

Stockton, the Northern California city of nearly 300,000, became the biggest when it filed for Chapter 9 on June 28. The much smaller city of Mammoth Lakes voted for bankruptcy July 3.

 

Why should you care?  Because under our nation’s current economic conditions, it is becoming increasingly difficult for local municipalities to flourish.  With the recent burst of the housing bubble and the resulting decreases in property values, comes decrease in property tax revenue.  Decreased spending on goods and services in the community results in decreases in sales tax collection. 

I bring this up not to alarm you, but to show how important it is as a citizen of Helena to know all the candidates and their views on the issues in regard to your local elections.  A few questions you should consider:

 

·         Will your representative reign in frivolous spending?

·         Will he or she be diligent in their research on capital projects before

     voting to approve or not? 

·         Will he or she support issues that encourage new local business? 

It is in your best interest to educate yourself on the views of your local officials.  You should be able to say you have confidence and trust in those that you elect to represent YOU.  As candidate for Helena City Council Place 1, it is my pledge to always do what is in the best interest of Helena as a whole.  This has been my goal over the last four years, and with your support, it will be my duty over the next four.

Due Diligence

During a Presidential election year it is easy for us to get wrapped up in the issues that the Federal level of government faces.   We tend to pay a lot of attention to the candidates’ views and what they stand for and how the outcome of the Presidential election will effect each of us personally. 

As a candidate for Helena City Council Place 1, I urge you to do the same level of due diligence when considering your vote for your local municipal representatives.   These are people in your community, your neighbors,  who are working to make sure that you have good schools, that you live in a safe community, that you have nice roads, and the list goes on and on.  These are the issues that have an effect on your everyday life in Helena and they are not decided in Washington.

Many believe that change is good, and some cases that may be true.  But it is not fair to take a broad brush approach when considering for whom you will vote to represent you on our city council.  It is important to know the stance each individual candidate takes on the issues that are important to you, regardless if the candidate is an incumbent or an opponent to an incumbent. 

As the incumbent for Helena City Council Place 1, I ask you to look at my record and consider my platform as a part of your decision.  I am happy to speak with you personally regarding any and all issues that you feel are important.  The next four years will prove to be an exciting time for our city.  We have the opening of the new high school and other projects that will significantly enhance our already wonderful community.  I have the experience and willingness to work hard to make sure everything we do is in the best interest of the city as a whole, but will also make a difference in each individual’s daily life in Helena.

Welcome To My Blog

I hope everyone is having a great summer. I will be using this blog to pass along information and as a place for you to leave comments, suggestions or just things you would like for me to know as I hit the campaign trail. 

I want to thank you for allowing me to represent you on the City Council over the last four years and with your support, I hope to continue my service to our city. 

If you would like to support me as your candidate for Helena City Council Place 1 please get out and VOTE.  You may also lend your support by:

• Allowing me to place a campaign sign in your yard.
• Helping me walk neighborhoods in my door to door efforts.
• "Like" my Hulsey for Helena page on Facebook.
• Invite others to follow my blog and like my Facebook page.
• Send a donation to help with the cost of my campaign.
• Please make checks out to The Committee to Elect Leigh Hulsey and mail to 241 Chadwick Lane, Helena, AL  35080.