Please give me a few moments of your time and allow me to introduce myself, concerns, plans, solutions and my political platform.Who is Garry Morgan? I 'm 57 years old, a long term resident of Scottsboro (since 1964). My family is blessed with 3 children, 3 step children and 10 grand children; I want you to know me personally, what I represent and my values. Mistakes were made early in my life but I have learned the lessons of life's trials and tribulations. One of my most valued experiences and education is that of my military service, 20 plus years in the United States Army, more specifics about my education and experiences are listed below. Although our experiences may be different, I'll assure you we have much in common, especially in our concerns for the beautiful area we call home, SCOTTSBORO, ALABAMA.
My wife Debbie passed away in 2003, it is never easy when your soul mate dies. Debbie always encouraged me to stand up for what I believe is right and was always very proud when I stood up for the values and issues which were important to both of us.
My mother, Mary Lance Morgan Bearden, had many friends in Scottsboro and tried her best to raise me as a single parent, that was not an easy task as I was a challenge for her in my teen years. I'm very thankful and privileged to have been raised by such a fine and admirable woman. This political race is dedicated to her memory and all of the effort she placed into raising me. My mother was a strong Christian woman who worked all her life to do her best, she taught me the importance of frugal living, may God Bless her for her efforts.
My Mother and Debbie are looking down and smiling from Heaven, both would be proud of me entering this political race. There is not a day which goes by that I do not miss both dearly.
Raising children to be responsible adults is no easy task and a heavy responsibility with two parents present. I understand the difficulties of single parents who find themselves with this most difficult and important task of raising children to be responsible adults.
It is for the families, the single parent, the working folks, the average Joe and Jane Citizen, who pay taxes and work hard to make ends meet that I am running for City Council. I know these hardships and I want to serve as your elected official, to represent you to the best of my abilities on the Scottsboro City Council. I'll give 110% to represent you. My door, my phone and my email will always be open for you all, the citizens of Scottsboro, Alabama 24/7, 365 days a year.
Within Scottsboro we have many hard working business men and women who provide for their families. Doctors, lawyers, teachers, business owners. I will be there for you having seen the difficulties of business. I've also been told that the City of Scottsboro makes it difficult for businesses to come to our city to operate. We need to identify the problems, solve them and make Scottsboro the "Friendly City" for business and industry.
Existing business and industry in Scottsboro are vital assets to our community. As a City Councilman I will do everything in my power to support our current business and industry. I will visit with you to express appreciation for your providing jobs for Scottsboro's Citizens and discuss with you issues which may be on your mind.
Young adults of Scottsboro often move away from our area to find work or advanced education opportunities. We need to work toward creating opportunities for young adults in Scottsboro. It is saddening to witness our youth leaving Scottsboro to find work and educational opportunities in other cities.
Term limits are important for all political offices both to encourage a concentrated commitment and to avoid the pitfalls of entrenchment. If you, the good people of Scottsboro, decide to elect me as your representative I will serve no more than 2 terms.
Open Government is a critical issue. An informed citizen is a citizen who is able to make reasonable decisions in the election process. It is critical that local government be open and accessible for the people. This has been a problem at times within our city and county. I have caught county government having secret meetings and exposed them for their misdeed. A few years ago I was instrumental in encouraging the city council to support citizen speech before the the full council by signing up to make presentations to the council. The City of Scottsboro does a fine job in maintaining an open government due to the efforts of its city attorney. Open government and laws supporting open government are critical to our nations freedoms, I strongly support accountable, open government.
Being an elected official is not just a job, it is an adventure and a commitment to the people, the community and our institutions. I will visit you in the community to determine your needs and to discuss the important issues which involve the citizens of Scottsboro.
Concerning my Council salary, the only money I need from the good people of Scottsboro is that which will help us to bring industry and business to Scottsboro and fund expenses to do such tasks.
We must develop plans and strategies for marketing Scottsboro. Marketing our area to business and industry across the United States is vitally important. The Chamber of Commerce does a fine job but it is not enough. Along with marketing plans, we must develop plans for expanding our tourism industry. I will work closely with all of our resources to support the marketing of Scottsboro and increasing our tourism industry. If we can convince folks to come and see us and show them what we have to offer we will have 60% or more of the battle for jobs won.
First Monday Trade Days have been an official tradition since 1908. This event represents our heritage and our entrepreneurial spirit. The First Monday Vendors Committee elected me as their spokesperson. When First Monday has needed support, I have spoken before the City Council requesting their support. I have participated in this traditional event for many years and will continue to support the event. First Monday needs marketing and I have personally spent money for television commercials to market the event across North Alabama. This event brings visitors to our city and is part of the "Scottsboro Experience."
There are several issues that will be forthcoming in the near future which will affect all of us, including our children our grand children and their children for many future years. The decisions of the TVA, Tennessee Valley Authority, are critical to the development of our area and the Tennessee River Valley.
TVA's efforts and expansion into Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Energy Solutions are an applaudable movement in the right direction. We must plan for our future now and Energy Efficiency is the most economical and productive means for providing jobs now to our community. Sustainable Energy Solutions are the answers for the 21st Century without the waste and complications of radioactive atomic and coal power plant waste.
The TVA must get its debt under control and not increase its debt as has been suggested by TVA Executives. TVA's $25 billion debt approaches the $30 billion debt ceiling mandated by Congress. I am a Fiscal Conservative, I do not support increasing the amount of debt of our Federal Government nor will I support increasing the debt of the TVA. Increasing TVA debt equates to increases in our electric bill. Local citizens and businesses can not afford the additional financial stress that increases in our electric bills will bring. Local governments must express vocal concern over TVA's increasing debt. We must encourage TVA to control their debt and expand their Energy Efficiency Programs as Energy Efficiency is the most cost effective way money may be saved by the TVA.
TVA is critical to our growth in Scottsboro and Jackson County. The efforts of the TVA and Scottsboro's Industrial Development Board in bringing the TVA Training Facility to Scottsboro's Industrial Park is commendable and appreciated.
Experience and Education: 20 plus years service in the United States Army Medical Department, retiring in 1991. The last position held was First Sergeant of the 464th Medical Detachment (DS) in Landstuhl Germany. I served in many different units while serving my nation including the 101st Airborne Division, 2nd Infantry Division and many assignments within units in Asia, Europe and across the United States.
The military service provided me the opportunity and education as a senior medical non-commissioned officer (NCO) and health care administrator to serve as part of a team leading and managing up to 350 civilian and military personnel, budgets and equipment totaling $500 million+, supervising 12 clinical administrators and logistics operations; serve as security NCO and Officer, NBC (nuclear-chemical and biological) Officer, Personal Reliability Program Officer in several military assignments.
After my military retirement I managed fast food restaurants, owned and managed my own companies, the last being a trucking company, 2 trucks leased to a larger company, in Little Rock, Arkansas which I sold in 2000. I have also worked in civilian security jobs.
My military and civilian education includes an Associate of Science and Bachelor of Science Degree, Allied Health Sciences, Baylor University, major in Health Care Administration. I have post-graduate credits in Sociology, Communications, Human Resource Management, Group and Inter-Group Relations.
Race Relations and Equal Opportunity Specialist education and training was received at the Department of Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute and I served in varied assignments within the U.S. Army as a Race Relations Equal Opportunity Specialist. Having received advanced training from the Federal Office of Personnel Management (OPM) in the many aspects of civilian personnel management in the federal system, including Labor-Management Relations and Negotiations, I was certified in Labor Management Relations and supervision of Federal Civilian Employees. Crisis Management Intervention and Mass Casualty Management training was provided to me for crisis management in emergency situations; as a small unit leader and administrator I received specialized training in facilities and construction maintenance and management. During off duty time I served as a part time Community Club Manager in non-appropriated fund positions within several installations during my military assignments.
While employed by the Jackson County Commission for 3 months in 1993 as Building and Grounds Superintendent I discovered there was an unsafe amount of friable (non-contained) asbestos covering the County Jail bull pen area within the Jackson County Courthouse. There were other areas above and around the jail where friable asbestos was broken off of the duct work and piping. Courthouse Electrical systems were aged and hazardous, tools and equipment had been pilfered, there was a general lack of control and updating of all building systems within the courthouse including roof and air handling systems. A full report of all hazards and needs were submitted to my supervisor and county officials. Having acquired approval to make immediate improvements where needed and temporarily covering all friable asbestos as best as could be accomplished I proceeded to make reports to the County Commissioners per approval of my supervisor, the Commission Chairman. The suspected asbestos was reported to the health department which was necessary to confirm suspicions of asbestos as required by law. Appearing before the commission I was promptly fired for my reporting, it was stated, "I was creating problems, we knew the asbestos was present and we attempted to keep it from the public." This was my indoctrination into Jackson County Politics and "the good ole boy political system." This experience after 20 plus years of military service where I believed professional, responsible actions must be the rule, not the exception. The experiance with the Jackson County Commission helped me to realize that political change must occur locally.
"Be all you can be" has meaning to this old soldier. Politicians who place more emphasis on their political appearances rather than positive actions to benefit the citizens do not serve the community, they serve themselves.
Currently I serve on the Board of Directors for the Scottsboro/Jackson County Multi-Cultural Heritage Foundation, Historian and Executive Committee member of the Scottsboro Boys Museum; member of the VFW and American Legion; member of the Alabama Environmental Council, Bellefonte Efficiency and Sustainability Team, Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League, Southern Alliance for Clean Energy and Center for Health, Environment and Justice. My work supports and encourages social justice and environmental stewardship.
We are the care takers of God's good earth, our governments and private institutions. What we do in our daily lives will be judged by God. To fail in our responsibilities of stewardship is to fail ourselves and Christian values.
My experiences and world travels have resulted in a very well rounded education and experience. I have divulged much to you about me, think of this blog as my application to you, the citizens of Scottsboro. It is my privilege to submit this application to you for your consideration to elect me as your representative in Place 4 on the Scottsboro City Council. It is my privilege to say thank you Jesus for allowing me the opportunities which I have experienced and to still be here to say thank you and offer my services to the good citizens of Scottsboro, Alabama.
It is my plan, if elected, to form a special advisory committee to assist in the decision making process for the specific purpose of further developing plans to bring business and industry to Scottsboro and to discuss and resolve other problematic issues in an open forum.
Together we can improve Scottsboro and together we can develop Christian Stewardship values to improve our environment, our homes, our business and industrial opportunities for all the Citizens of Scottsboro.
PLEASE VOTE FOR ME COME AUGUST THE 24TH, GARRY MORGAN, CANDIDATE FOR PLACE 4, SCOTTSBORO CITY COUNCIL.
"SENSIBLE LEADERSHIP FOR SCOTTSBORO'S FUTURE."
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Political advertisement, Garry Morgan, P.O.Box 241, Scottsboro, Al., 35768
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