Politics & Government
Fleck Hopes to Implement a Citizens Financial Review Board for Roswell
Roswell's self-proclaimed "budget observer," Lee Fleck will run against current Councilwoman Becky Wynn, as well as residents Adam Braund, Salma Ahmed and Michael Martin.
Lee Fleck is a staple at Roswell City Council meetings, where he often approaches the podium with insight into local policies or issues. Now he hopes to turn those comments into hands-on application with a run at the Roswell City Council Post 2 seat.
Fleck - who has a background in food, beverage and chemical industries plant management - commissioned the first water bottling plant in a war zone for the U.S. Army during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
He has been licensed by the Department of Homeland Security as a customs broker and in that vein he says he helped the city implement the Systematic Alien Verification of Entitlements (SAVE) Program, which requires foreign nationals receiving public benefits to verify their legal residency in the United States. He also introduced the Roswell Police Department to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Secured Communities Program, a program that integrates all of
the federal crime data bases to include the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Homeland Security, ICE and
Interpol with the state Georgia Bureau of Investigation criminal data bases at the point of arrest and detention.
Find out what's happening in Roswellwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
"Since the institution of these programs, major crime and arrests have seen a substantial decline in Roswell," he told Roswell Patch.
Fleck also considers himself somewhat of a taxpayer watchdog and often calls the city council out for what he believes is liberal spending and unchecked budget increases. One such way he plans to do make changes to the way things are currently done is to ensure citizens who get their water from the city have the final say on the $17 million revenue bond to build a new water plant.
Find out what's happening in Roswellwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
He also believes the city's recently completed , which encompasses the redevelopment of blighted and under performing areas. He he does also want to see the Public-Private Investment Program implemented to retain and assist local merchants.
Additionally, "providing the infrastructure and incentives to attract high tech business has to be a primary objective as it has been for our neighbor [Alpharetta]," he said.
Some of his top priorities for Roswell are:
- "Fiscal accountability and sound accounting practices. I favor implementing a zero-based balanced budget and establishing a citizens financial review board that I am confident will result in lower taxes and fees, greater efficiencies and more value for tax dollars spent.
- Open, transparent government. Meetings held out of sight of the public only to be passed as 'consent agenda' items is not my way of doing citizens business. When elected, I’ll propose publishing the city's check registry on the city website to promote transparency so citizens can oversee expenditures and even make cost saving suggestions.
- High standards of government services. I am committed to smaller government intent on respecting the wishes of the community while protecting the rights of the individual. I firmly believe in the need to listen to citizens and address their concerns."
Fleck says he is running for office because he loves his city and its history.
"The City of Roswell is a fantastic city in which to live, raise a
family and retire because it has a community of volunteers," he said. "That is what makes Roswell such a desirable place."
Since 1985, Fleck and his wife, Judy, have lived in Roswell, raising three adult daughters. He has long been involved in volunteer aspects of Roswell youth recreation programs. These days he loves to "spoil" his three grandsons and granddaughter.
For more information on Fleck's campaign, visit his website.
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