Editor's Corner
MAYORAL CANDIDATE ROBERT L. (ROBB) PITTS
Robb Pitts, President of the Atlanta City Council, was the guest speaker of MNA's monthly Public Safety meeting held last Tuesday at Mary Mac's Tea Room. The introduction was made by MNA's Vice President Jannie Gerds who incidentally announced her candidacy as Councilwoman representing District 6 in the Atlanta City Council. Her announcement was received with an enthusiastic round of applause.
Robb Pitts has served as President of the Atlanta City Council since 1997. Prior to becoming President, he served as a member of the City Council for twenty years. His first election to public office was in 1977. As a member of the City Council Robb chaired the Council's Finance and Finance/Executive Committees. He earned the reputation of being known as the "watchdog" of the taxpayers' money because he scrutinized the City's spending. Robb is a former college professor. He has amassed a number of academic and professional achievements. He holds a Master's degree in Business Administration from Emory University and has held faculty positions at Kent State University in Kent, Ohio; Oberlin College in Oberlin, Ohio and Clark College (now Clark Atlanta University) in Atlanta, Georgia.
The audience was favorably impressed with Robb's strong knowledge and savvy of the inner-workings of city government. His vast experience came through as he engaged in a lively question and answer session which lasted over an hour. The issues were multiple and diverse, ranging from airport concessions and airport expansion to police force vacancies, pay and benefits. One issue that he placed emphasis upon was the police force. He pledged that when elected the Atlanta policemen and women will be the highest paid, their retirement benefits will be upgraded and fully funded and he will make sure that morale is uplifted to a higher plateau than where it stands now. This prescription will boost confidence and eliminate the problem of vacancies.
One could not help but notice Robb's superb command of knowledge in a number of key issues and the prescribed solutions to each one of them, all ending with accountability of performance. At one point, he stated that he will have no problem going to Governor Barnes and seeking state assistance on an issue which may be beyond the boundries of his budget or juristiction. In closing, he said that he will apply sound business principles in governing the government business.
We wish Robb Pitts the very best in his quest to become the Mayor of Atlanta.
James C. Stathis
Associate Editor
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