Cumberland Candidates please post you names and comments here

my name is charles raleigh, and most of you no me and no I only work for the people and not any click or people that have run the town from behind the scenes. you put me back this nov and Ill still be the same guy working for you on the issues you the people say to me you wan't and the issues you bring before the Council Vote me back in and youll see i wont let you down. Thank you Councilman Charles Raleigh

Thanks, Charles!

The pen is mightier than the sword.

Only one other has filed in Cumberland that I know of.. Carl Hatfield.

The pen is mightier than the sword.

Sorry for being late. Just came across your request, I am a candidate for Cumberland City Council. I served a short term as council member in 1984 (?) at which time Mayor Glen Shepherd resigned and the remaining council members appointed me to serve as mayor. At the time I advised them that my job at Kentucky Harlan Coal in Coldiron required more than 8-hours a day and six days a week. Mr. Fred Hall said he would take the job if it became necessary, I couldn't devote enough time to the mayors position and retain my job so I left and Mr. Hall assumed the position. I did run and was elected to the council at the next term and served two years without missing one of 23 meetings which were held. In April of 2006 I was appointed by the council to complete the term of Mayor Jeff Harrison who resigned to enter a business opportunity. I completed the term in office on December 31, 2007. I am now ready, able and willing to work for the people of Cumberland with the best interest of the city in mind.

Carl,
I don't live locally, but have quite a few family members in
Cumberland city limits. I will advise all people I know to vote for you. I hope you can truly make a change or at least an attempt at one. I have faith in your ability after reading your posts on this board.

Is the mayor's election this year? If so, I think Charles should run for it. He would have alot of locals behind him.

I will be officially filing my papers for Cumberland City Council at the County Clerks office in the morning. I will post a press release some time in the next few days outlining my goals and background. I look forward to working with the public.

Dedicated~Enthusiastic~Responsible
A vote for David C. Dixon is a vote for change and progress!

I will post a press release some time in the next few days outlining my goals and background.

Dedicated~Enthusiastic~Responsible
A vote for David C. Dixon is a vote for change and progress!

Does this work for you?

I am 22 years old and a 2004 graduate of Cumberland High School and a 2005 graduate of Southeast Kentucky Community Technical College and completed my Bachelor of Arts in Education at Midway College with a GPA of 3.5. I am an active member of the community, volunteering with different areas of the local schools and a member of Cumberland Pentecostal Church where I serve in the Multimedia Department and help with the Children's Ministries. I served two years as President of the Tri-City Grand Reunion Committee and have been involved with several local projects to better the community.

I have been actively attending Cumberland City Council Meetings since August of 2004 and wishes to see a change in my hometown. If elected to the Cumberland City Council, I will work with fellow council members and the mayor to see that the city’s policies are carried out, the departments are doing their jobs, the bickering stops, and unity happens. I will also work actively with the local tourism commission and chamber to see that our area is prompted properly and that people will want to visit the Tri-City area.

Dedicated~Enthusiastic~Responsible
A vote for David C. Dixon is a vote for change and progress!

Thank you for your support outsider. I will put forth my best effort to be a positive and constructionist council member. It will take cooperation and a desire to work for the best interest of Cumberland by all members of the council, mayor, employees.

I cannot understand why one of the four clerks, the mayor, one of the seven council members, or any of the droans that hang around city hall did not take time to post the surplus firetruck that they are trying to sell on the League of Cities Auction Link, or the GOLD Auction, or even e-bay, these are the places that anyone would look to purchase a fire truck.

David C. -

What is your current take on this administration, the council successes, weaknesses, and the same for the current mayor? How do you feel about the controversy that has clouded this current administration, and do you agree with the mayor's calls on past issues dealing with employees? What do you feel are her strengths and weaknesses, and how would you be able to transition seamlessly into this current administration, as as far as your current political agenda and beliefs?

The pen is mightier than the sword.

FA -
The current administration has their weaknesses and successes. In my opinion, the lack of cooperation on both sides have really hurt them. I feel the current controversy is over for now. I realize somethings have been handled incorrectly and several issues should probably been brought to public light; however, I am not sure what all can be public with employee issues. This is definately one thing, I want to study on and will definately be doing my homework on. I agree with Mr. Hatfield and Mr. Raleigh that the manuel needs to be looked at and revised and was partially done during Mr. Hatfield's term. I feel that the mayor has the city's interests at heart and is willing to work together with the council to get things done in the city. I believe once people put the past in the past and work toward the present and the future, the city will see changes. I believe I would be able to transition into the current administration easily because I have been attending Council Meetings not missing very many over the past four years and when I have missed, I have read the articles from both newspapers and the minutes kept at City Hall, in order to stay current on the issues. I feel that I know enough about what the current council members are passionate about and we share many of the same beliefs. One of the major things I want to see done is the blighted buildings and planning/ zoning committees dissolved and either reappointed with people willing to work or those duties handed back over to the council members in order to beautify our town. I realize that someone people think I am probably in this race either because of a family member or being close to the mayor; however, that is not the case. You can ask anyone whom I have been involved with over the past four years and I have said after I turn 21 that I am going to run for City Council to try and make a difference in the town.

I hope I have answered your questions.

Dedicated~Enthusiastic~Responsible
A vote for David C. Dixon is a vote for change and progress!

I'm glad that you have decided become a candidate for council David. Based upon your past volunteer efforts in community activities, education and motivation you should do fine. I would also like to see Rick Haynes become a candidate, or Katreena, both are fine community minded young people. Like you, I believe they are independent thinkers and are leaders rather than followers, which is one of the sore spots of the present regime. You must do your thing, and convince other council members to agree with you. The only authority you have is when you are in a legal convened council meeting and being a council member is not all play as it appears to be now. During the first six months of your tenure, you will be primarily concentrating on FY 09 budget in addition to attending council meetings and participating in other legislative functions. These items cannot be shoved aside if we would want to improve the condition of our city. I realize it is politics that get you elected, but politics should be abandoned after being placed in office and only the best interests of the city should prevail. A good point to remember is "what's good for the majority is good for me". Also, "if one pays, all pays, if one does not pay, none pays". I hope I get to serve on the council with you.

Thank you, Mr. Hatfield! I believe working together we can all make a change in this town for better. I also, agree about the first six months is morning toward a budget and if elected, I want to see the budget passed before July 1st, something that has not been done in Cumberland for years. I believe this would show people we care about how their money is being spent.

One thing I would also like to see take place again which is something I will push for is videoing of the City Council Meetings. When I was a student at Southeast and worked for Southeast TV, I videoed past council meetings, so the meetings was made available for the public to watch. This is definately something that needs to be done.