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This
is a critical time in the history of Austin. The City
is facing a growing financial crisis, and the local economy
is bust. This is a time for strong, proven,
experienced leadership. I have the specific experience of dealing
successfully with the issues facing the City today.
I
have 25 years of community
experience and involvement. Nine of these years were spent
serving on the City Council, while we ended the Airport
debate and Convention Center debate with two successful bond
elections leading to on-time, on-budget construction
projects. The bust of the late 80’s was in
full bloom during my first term, but by the end of my second
term, Austin was bouncing back. When I left the
Council in 1996, Austin was a livable city with a vibrant
tourist industry, a growing music industry, many new
progressive environmental laws, and an affordable economy. I
helped make these things possible and I believe we can do it
again.
During
the years that I have been off the City Council, our air has
gotten more polluted and our water supply is more
threatened. Instead of passing more stringent laws to
protect our air and water, the Council has approved
variances to SOS and encouraged unnecessary construction
projects. Austin’s environment needs a strong leader
to stand up to the pressures of development, and I am that
leader.
We
must make government smaller and more efficient. We
must revitalize our local economy using the local industries
of Music, Tourism, and Hi-Tech. We must work with
other governmental agencies to improve health care and
housing. And we will protect our community while
supporting our citizens and city employees who are called to
military service.
I
invite all Austinites to a serious and lively discussion of
the critical issues facing Austin today. This website
will serve as a forum for a weekly posting presenting each
of my eleven Points of Urgency that I want to talk about in
this campaign. Each week, I will present a Point of
Urgency for Austin as I see it and my vision for addressing
that problem. Readers are welcome to respond through
the Forum.
I
hope that this website, and my candidacy, will encourage all
citizens to participate in the governing of our city.
Voting is a precious power, and I urge all citizens to
exercise this power to vote and protect their vital
interests. Please go to the polls on May 3rd
to vote for me as your next Mayor.
Michael
“Max” Nofziger
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