Powell

Arnold Mayor Mark Powell, who twice has unsuccessfully run as a Democrat for state treasurer,  has just announced that he “plans to seek re-election as Arnold mayor.”

Powell’s term expires in the spring of 2009.

Here’s part of his release:

When first elected as mayor in 2001, I came in with a goal of improving the economics and image of the city and to provide high quality affordable services for Arnold residents.  I believe the mayor’s position requires an individual with long term goals and a vision for the future.

My entire public career has been geared toward accomplishing goals.  When I served on the Fox School Board, we were a cohesive unit with one goal in mind; educating our children.  I was president of the school board when we constructed and opened the Rickman Auditorium that has become a focal point in Arnold.

As mayor, I have worked with others to bring Arnold a library, a recreational center, a golf course, a college and new commercial and retail developments.  We will soon be seeing the opening of several new restaurants, shops and a new Super Wal-Mart.  While the entire nation is in an economic recession, Arnold is experiencing retail and commercial development that is approaching $200 million dollars.

We also now have free trash service and free curbside recycling as well as new storm warning sirens, computers in our police cars and improved roadways.

All of these efforts have led our city to being named to the number twelve spot on the Money Magazine list of the best Most Affordable Cities in America.  I am proud of this accomplishment and happy for our residents who have had so much to do with it.  This will be tough to top, but we cannot stop now, we must continue to be aggressive, yet cautious, as we move forward.  We must control our own destiny as we grow and not allow developers, outsiders or self-serving individuals to control us.  We have been successful to this point, and we must continue being successful.