Arts and Culture are very important to Roswell.  They bring good people to Roswell.  They generate good jobs.  They are good for business.  The arts and culture make Roswell a better place to live.  I get it. 

Under my leadership as Mayor, Roswell adopted as a strategic goal the celebration of our history, culture, and character.  At my request, the City created the Historic and Cultural Affairs Board to promote the arts and culture in Roswell.  We hired a full-time Cultural Arts Director.  We purchased Bulloch Hall.  We developed an amphitheater and began a concert series there.  We opened the Roswell Art Center West on the Leita Thompson property.  Roswell has benefitted.  We have become the arts and cultural center for the metro region north of Atlanta.  We have the potential to do even more.  Roswell cannot achieve its potential without your help. 

Sharon Moskowitz has asked what I can do as Mayor to get the City to do more for the arts.  There is nothing I can do without your help. 

Let me tell you a story.  This year the Cultural Arts Board discontinued the CABI Awards because there was no sponsorship money and no money from the City.  Last year, we almost had to cancel the CABI, but I had $5,000.00 in my discretionary account which I was able to spend on the CABIs without Council approval.  The cost of the CABI was $11,000.00. 

The Council was also considering not funding the Roswell Bicycle Criterium, which cost the City $30,000.00, because there were no sponsors available to help the City.  Bike Roswell filled the Council chambers when this came up for a vote, and the Council unanimously approved spending the $30,000.00 for the bike race. 

If you had come to a Council meeting to request that the City full fund $11,000.00 for the CABI awards, it would have been done.  If you want more help from the City, you need to come together, form an organization, and when you want the City’s help, go to the City Council as a group, not as individuals.

Jere Wood, Mayor of Roswell, 9/22/09

September 22, 2009

The Arts Forum held on Tuesday evening, 9/22, at The Fickle Pickle was a success.  The weather was good, the food great, the conversation stimulating, and after almost everyone had left, Judie and I danced as Bobby and the Bow Ties played on. 

There were several suggestions on how the City could better promote the Arts, including directional signs, help in publicizing cultural events, and providing  places where arts and cultural organizations could meet. 

In response to questions about how I could help as Mayor, I answered, “There is nothing I can do without help from the arts community.”  To see my opening remarks at The Arts Forum, go to my blog at www.mayorwood.com. 

I recognize the importance of arts and culture to Roswell.  They bring good people to Roswell, generate good jobs, are good for business, and make Roswell a better place to live.  I get it.  Under my leadership as Mayor, Roswell adopted a Vision Statement that says we are a community that “celebrates our culture and protects our heritage”.  At my request, the City created the Historic and Cultural Affairs Board, hired a full-time Cultural Arts Director, built an amphitheater at Riverside Park and began a concert series, and opened Roswell Art Center West. 

For Roswell to achieve its  potential in the fields of arts and culture, I need help .  If the Arts and Culture Community wants help from the City, they need to organize, and when they want the City’s help, go as a group to the City Council.  If they become organized and work together, the City Council will support their efforts to promote arts and culture in Roswell.

Mayor Jere Wood

September 22, 2009

Arts and Culture are very important to Roswell.

Arts and Culture bring good people to Roswell.

Arts and Culture  generate good jobs.

Arts and Culture are good for business.

Arts and Culture have made Roswell a better place to live.

I get it.

Under my leadership
Roswell adopted in our vision statement that  we are a community that celebrates our culture.
We included in our a strategic goals the celebration of our history, culture, and   character.

At my request,
The City created the Historic and Cultural Affairs Board to promote the arts and culture in Roswell.
We hired a full-time Cultural Arts Director.
We built an amphitheater at Riverside Park and began a concert series.
We opened the Roswell Art Center West.

Roswell has benefitted from its promotion of the Arts.

We have become the cultural center for the metro region north of Atlanta.

We have the potential to do even more but we cannot achieve our potential without your help.

Sharon Moskowitz has asked what I can do as Mayor to get the City to do more for the arts.

There is nothing I can do without your help.

Let me tell you a story.

This year the Cultural Arts Board discontinued the CABI Awards because there was no sponsorship money and no money from the City to cover the $11,000 cost of the CABIs.   Last year, we almost had to cancel the CABI, but I had $5,000.00 in my discretionary account which I was able to spend on the CABIs without Council approval.

This year the Council was also considered canceling the Roswell Bicycle Criterium because it lost its named sponsor, Nalley.  Bike Roswell filled the Council chambers when cancelling the Criterium came up for a vote, and the Council unanimously approved spending $30,000.00 that it cost to run the bike race.

If the people in this room  come to the Council and  requested that the City spend  $11,000.00 for the CABI awards, it would have been done.

If you want  help from the City, you need to come together, form an organization, and when you want the City’s help, go to the City Council as a group, not as individuals.

Stay Positive and Have Fun.

Volunteer Meeting. You are invited to a volunteer meeting this Wednesday night at my mother’s house on Stroup Road, 7:00 pm, 9-23. I want to hear how you think the race is going and what you suggest we need to do to win.

Yard Signs, Brochures, Stickers. Come by my office on Canton Street and pick up yard signs, campaign literature, and stickers to give your friends and neighbors, or e-mail us at mayorwood@mayorwood.com and we will deliver.

Website. Go to www.mayorwood.com to see new design by Eddie Mathis.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Monday. City Council meeting.

Tuesday. Mayor’s Forum on the Arts at Fickle Pickle, 6:30 pm.

Wednesday. Volunteer meeting at 7:00 pm; you are invited.

Thursday. Groveway Charrette at 8:00 am, Rotary at noon, West Side Bridge opening at 2:00 pm, Cottage School honoring dyslexia scholars at 5:30 pm, North Fulton Bar Association at 6:30 pm, Kiwanis Dinner at 8:00 pm.

Friday. Groveway Charrette wrap up at 1:30 pm, Foster Care Support Foundation at 2:00 pm, Centennial High Knights at home, 7:30 pm.

Saturday. Rivers Alive at Riverside Park at 8:30 am, PizzaVito on Crabapple Road opening at 12:30, Duck Race on Big Creek at 1:15, Sip of the South at Bullock Hall at 6:00 pm.

Sunday. Macbeth at Barrington Hall, 4:00 pm.

LAST WEEK

Rain all week. Alive after 5 survived when rain broke just long enough, Arts Festival on the square drowned. It looked like the sun was coming out Sunday afternoon, so I road Judie’s scooter to the Square and had to race back when the rain returned. I worked all Saturday and Sunday on Issues Statements. Go to redesigned web page to see the fruits of my labor.

Become my Friend on Facebook.

Its All Good!

Jere Wood

I have enjoyed bicycling in Roswell for most of my 60 years. As a young boy, one of my proudest achievements was overcoming the fear of riding a bicycle without training wheels. The best presents my brother and I ever received for Christmas were new bicycles. We road them to our friends, to town for Little League practice, and once we even bicycled on dirt roads all the way from Roswell to our Grandparents’ home on Lake Alatoona.

In high school I temporarily gave up bicycles for cars, but at the University of Georgia I bought a 10-speed and rediscovered the joy and convenience of bicycling. I spent my last summer before beginning my legal career bicycling across Europe.

After marrying Judie Raiford and restoring an old log cabin for our home, I discovered mountain biking. Len Postema and I cleared trails behind our houses to practice trail biking skills. Before there were rules limiting where you could ride, we rode our fully rigid mountain bikes at Big Creek and on trails in North Georgia that had never been ridden.

When I was elected mayor, I began building trails and promoting bicycling with help from the city, Roswell Vello, RAMBO, and Bike Roswell. First we sanctioned mountain biking at Big Creek Park. Next we started the Historic Roswell Criterium. Then we persuaded the city to build the Riverwalk Trail. The ARC required that we reduce the width of Azalea Drive to compensate for paving the Riverwalk trail. In response to the criticism that by changing Azalea Drive we had taken away the only good place to bicycle in Roswell, we started the Mayor’s Ride to introduce bicyclists to the entire city. Then we organized the bicycle ride in March to the State Capitol. We adopted a policy that whenever possible when the city improves a street we widen it to add bike shoulders. Most recently, we partnered with the City of Sandy Springs and the Georgia Transplant Organization to closing down GA 400 for 1,500 bicyclists to ride the Hospitality Highway Century.

In 2006, Roswell was recognized as the first Bicycle Friendly Community in Georgia. People are moving to Roswell because of its bicycle friendly streets. Today there are more cyclists on the streets of Roswell in one day than there used to be in a month.

I am proud to have been part of making Roswell the first bicycle friendly city in Georgia and I am excited about the opportunities to make Roswell and the State of Georgia an even better place to ride. 

Jere Wood, Mayor of Roswell

Stay Positive and Have Fun!

Alive After 5.  We need volunteers for Alive After 5, Thursday, September 17th, 5:00 to 8:00 p.m., to staff our campaign tent at my law office on Canton Street.  This will be the last Alive After 5 this year so if you haven’t come yet, don’t miss it.  E-mail my office at volunteers@mayorwood.com if you have an hour of time to help.

Campaign stickers and brochures are in.  Put a “Jere Wood for Mayor” sticker on your car window.  New yard signs, T-shirts, and bandanas have been ordered.  Pick up a yard sign at my law office, or e-mail us at yardsigns@mayorwood.com and we will deliver them to you.

E-mail Addresses.  We need e-mail addresses of Roswell citizens; let me know if you can share any e-mail lists.

Volunteer Meeting.  Our next volunteer meeting will be held Wednesday, September 23rd, at my mother’s house at 10850 Stroup Road.  Save the date.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Monday. Rotary Tournament at Brookfield Country Club.  Roswell City Council meeting at 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday. Dinner at TJ’s Sports Bar, 2880 Holcomb Bridge Road, 7:00 p.m.

Wednesday.  Chattahoochee Nature Center Audubon Reception at 6:00 p.m.; Roswell King Social Club; and Alex Kaufman Fundraiser at Horseshoe Bend, 9:00 p.m.

Thursday.  Roswell Rotary, 12:00 noon; Roswell Station HOA meeting; Doubletree Hotel Renovation Celebration, 4:30 p.m.; Roswell Master Transportation Plan Meeting, Roswell High School, 6:00 p.m.; Masonic Lodge for dinner at 6:30 p.m.

Friday.  Football at Roswell High School.  Neither Roswell High nor Centennial High have lost a game on the field to a non-Roswell team.

Saturday.  Movie Night at Riverside Park; Shakespeare at Barrington Hall.

Sunday.  Foster Care Support Open House, 2:00 p.m.

LAST WEEK (Week of 9/7)

Friday. I cheered the Centennial Knights on to victory against Alpharetta High School.  Roswell High beat Pope away.

Saturday.  I spoke at the Republican Breakfast about the threat of big government taking over our free market economy, the text of which is on my blog at www.mayorwood.com.

Next, I went to the tea party at City Hall.  It is clear that much of Roswell is not happy with Washington.

Sunday.  I was privileged to be the guest of Kirt Lattanze in Edenwilde, along with his picks for City Council, Nancy Diamond, Dr. Betty Price, Jim Pollak, and Jerry Orlans.

Facebook

Become my friend on Facebook. 

It’s all good!

Jere Wood

The difference between Republicans and Democrats.

I was raised in Roswell, which was then a small Dixicrat town, by Yellow Dog Democrats. I am the only Republican my mother ever voted for. My mother and father traveled to New Hampshire with the Peanut Brigade to campaign for Jimmy Carter, and President Carter appointed my father to serve as assistant to the Secretary of Interior during his administration.

I majored in economics at the University of Georgia and learned  how our  free market economy works. My favorite author was Thoreau, and I adopted his philosophy that “government is best which governs least” and big government is the enemy of individual rights and personal liberty.

When I was 29,  I ran for Roswell City Council as an Independent on the promise to stop the widening of a road through my neighborhood.  I was gaining momentum until Mayor Pug Mabry pulled the plug by cancelling the City’s plans to widen the road.  Afterwards, I remained active in Roswell politics, but I did not join any political party.

Twenty years later, when I was trying to decide whether to run against Mayor Mabry, a 31-year incumbent Democrat, I heard Senator Paul Coverdale speak about his political beliefs.  He said he was a Republican because he believed in the free market system, individual rights, and personal liberty.  I have been a member of the Republican Party ever since.

The difference between the Republican and the Democratic Parties has never been clearer than in the Debate over Health Care.  Congressman Price, Senator Isakson, and the Republicans want a free market health care system in which patients make health care choices and everyone is able to obtain coverage.  Under President Obama’s plan, government would choose what health care we receive, who pays for it, and how much it costs.

President Obama says that at stake is not just details of policy, but the fundemental principals and character of our country.  I agree with him.

We are not just debating health care, we are debating whether America will continue to have a free market economy.

Our nation is at a tipping point.   Forty-five percent of America’s  gross domestic product has  already been taken over by government. Health care makes up 16 percent of our gross domestic product.  If big government takes over health care,  more than half of our economy will be run by the government.�
The  free market system has proven to be the most efficient  way to produce and distribute goods and services in history.  Our free market system has made us the strongest country in the world.  We defeated communism in the market place, not on the field of battle or through politics.

If America ceases to have a free market economy, we will cease to be free.

The United States is the strongest nation in history.  The biggest threat we are facing today is not a terrorist attack, it is big government take over.  Our biggest enemy is not al Qaida, it is people who are willing to trade our free market system for government health care.

Just as Jacob offered his brother Esau a bowl of lentil stew for his birthright, the Democrats are offering us  government health care in exchange for our individual rights and liberty. Not even Esau would accept the Democrats’ offer.

The Democrats want big  government to take over America’s economy.

The Republicans want America to remain free.

It is time for us to take back America.

Jere Wood.

Roswell is home to more than 5,000 businesses.  I operate one of them.  In addition to serving as Roswell’s Mayor, I have a law office on Canton Street which employs two people plus myself.

Four hundred and fifty new businesses came to Roswell this year, including Verizon Wireless, who opened a Customer Service Center bringing 600 new jobs; LG Electronics, who opened a regional headquarters and training center; Huntington Learning Center; and Ronald Blue & Co. Kimberly Clark and UPS have offices in Roswell, but the majority of Roswell businesses are owned by our neighbors.  Approximately 50 percent of the new businesses licensed in 2009 were “home-based.”
�
Roswell businesses employ our neighbors, support our civic organizations, and serve our families.  Operating a small business is never easy, but it is particularly challenging in today’s economy.  Whenever you go shopping, bring home groceries, go out to dinner, buy a car, or need the services of a doctor, lawyer, plumber, or carpenter, there is no need to look beyond your home town.  You can find everything you want in Roswell.  By spending your money locally, you are helping not just your neighbor, you are helping yourself.

At my request the City recently kicked off “Find It All-Roswell,” a marketing campaign to promote shopping for all goods and services in Roswell.  When you see “Find It All-Roswell” stickers, banners, ads, or discount shopping cards, remember to look first for what you want in Roswell.

Please visit www.finditallroswell.com and our Find It All-Roswell Facebook page to learn more about how to find it all in Roswell and to receive your shopping card.

I hope to find you shopping in Roswell. 

Mayor Jere Wood

WHY I AM RUNNING: 

I am running for re-election because I love my hometown, I have a vision of how we can make Roswell better, and as Mayor, I can make it happen. 

I was 29 the first time I ran for public office. I ran because growth was threatening to destroy the places and things I loved about my hometown.  I  followed in the footsteps of my father, who founded the Chattahoochee Nature Center, and my mother, who started the first kindergarten in Roswell.  Even though I was not elected, I stopped the City from 4-laning the road through my neighborhood. 

I remained active in Roswell but did not run for office again until I was 49.  I ran against a 31-year incumbent mayor whom not even my mother believed I could beat.  I had a vision of making Roswell a better place to live by setting aside land for parks and green space, preserving our historic district, and protecting our environment.  The incumbent mayor was worried that Roswell was not growing as fast as Alpharetta.  I won. 

I am running for Mayor again because I want to create more street and sidewalk connections to improve mobility, add turn lanes and  build roundabouts at intersections to reduce congestions, work with neighborhoods and property owners to encourage re-development, promote local businesses, and work to re-create Milton County.  I want to continue to preserve Roswell’s history, protect our environment, strengthen our neighborhoods, celebrate our culture, and improve our schools.

I am running for Mayor because I want Roswell to become an even better place to live. 

Candidate File: 

Name:  Jere Wood
Age:   60
Profession: Attorney
Education: Roswell Elementary; Roswell High; University of Georgia, BBA, Cum Laude; Juris Doctor

Political experience: Mayor of Ros. since 1998; N. F. Muni.Assn Chair; Atl. Mayors Assn.1st Chair; Atl. Reg. Assn. Board; Ga. Muni. Assn. Board; Ros. Council Candidate 1979, 1981.

Civic Associations: Ros. Hist. Soc.-Past Pres.; Ros. Kiwanis-Past VP; Ros. Rotary; Bike Ros.; Ros.-Alph. Mtn. Bike Club; N.F. Bar Assn-Past Pres.; High Meadow Schl.-Past Chair; Ros. Teaching Museum Board; N.F. Chamber-Board; Greenway Community Club-Past Pres. 

Mayor Jere Wood

STAY POSITIVE AND HAVE FUN!

Republican Breakfast This Saturday. The North Fulton Republican Party has invited me to be their featured speaker at their breakfast, 8:30 a.m., 9/12, Horseshoe Bend Country Club.  I will be talking about how I became a Republican and disappointed my mother.  The cost of breakfast is $10.00, and you are all invited.

Upcoming Events

I will be having fun this week!

Tuesday. I will welcome citizens today to the Roswell Police Academy.

Wednesday. I will have lunch with the Roswell Ramblers at the Adult Rec Center, and preside at the Roswell City Council meeting.

Thursday. I will open the second Transportation Master Plan meeting at East Roswell Park, 6:00 p.m.

Friday. I will be rooting for the Knights at the Centennial High School football game.

Saturday is a big day.  In addition to speaking at the Republican Breakfast which you are invited to, I will welcome folks to the North Fulton & Friends Tea Party at the Faces of War Memorial in front of City Hall at 11:00 a.m.

Sunday.  At 1:00 p.m. I will be at Kirt Lattanze’s house in Edenwilde for a cookout, followed by the Hembree Forest neighborhood street party at 3:00.

Monday.  I will visit the Rotary Golf Tournament at Brookfield Country Club, and preside at the Roswell City Council meeting.

Last Week, 8/30

Sunday.  I attended the Boy Scout Cavalcade at Roswell City Hall, which was rained out, and the Drake House Ice Cream Social at the Town Square, which was almost rained out.  Congressman Tom Price, Commissioner Lynn Riley, and I judged ice cream with fruit, and I had way too much to eat.

Monday.  I qualified to run for re-election, and two new interns joined our team, Mike Kim and Brandon Adams.  That evening we went to the North Fulton Republican Victory Dinner, where Congressman Price and all the Republican gubernatorial candidates, Karen Handel, John Oxendine, Eric Johnson, and Mike Scott gave them political advice.

Tuesday.  I opened the Transportation Master Plan meeting and introduced Congressman Price to an audience of 1,500 at his Town Hall Meeting.

Wednesday.  We had a volunteer cookout in the yard at my law office on Canton Street.  I don’t know how many people came, but they ate all of the 190 hamburgers and hot dogs grilled by Jimmy of Rhea’s Takeout.

Thursday.  I called a special meeting to answer Council’s questions about my sponsoring the North Fulton & Friends Tea Party on 9/12.  Two council members, including one of my opponents, did not attend.

Friday. The last day for qualifying.  Every race is contested.  I expect Jim Pollak will give Councilman Iglehart a real race. I tossed the coin for the Centennial v. Roswell High School football game, and divided my time equally on each side of the field, rooting for my home teams.  I joined Principal Spurka and Principal Bartley for barbecue from Slope’s before the game.

Saturday. I joined two or three thousand people to see the Return of the Beatles concert at Riverside Park.

Sunday.  I enjoyed the end-of-summer celebration and fireworks at Centennial High School.

Yard Signs

Come and get ‘em.  I hope you like our new logo.  We have yard signs with the old logo. You can pick up a yard sign from the breezeway at my office, 1173 Canton Street, or we will put one up for you upon request by e-mailing me at mayorwood@mayorwood.com, or by calling 770-641-1923.

Facebook

Become my friend on Facebook. 

It’s all good!

Jere Wood