(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this column of those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of The Augusta Press.)
It’s time for change, Augusta. As I’ve stated on numerous occasions during this campaign to become the 85th mayor for the City of Augusta, if you are satisfied with the direction of this city, I won’t earn your vote. It’s a bold statement, but that’s how strongly I feel Augusta needs a fresh new perspective on leadership. I am Garnett Johnson, a native of east Augusta, the son of a school bus driver and now proud local business owner with a headquarters at 1018 Telfair St., and I am passionate about getting Augusta winning again.
As mayor, my job is to be the greatest ambassador and biggest cheerleader for the city and the people who live in it. To me, that means getting Augusta growing again: growing confidence in our city with a clean-up campaign, growing our population, and growing our economic base so that young people look for jobs in their hometown like I did. In the last ten years, Augusta has grown by only 3% while our neighbors have grown by double-digits. Augusta is home to one of the premier cyber centers in the country, yet people decide to commute from other communities to work there.
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How do we change that? Action. Augusta needs someone who does more than talk, someone who will do what’s needed whether they get the credit or not. Most importantly, we need a leader that’s actionable in a fiscal way and “stands on the side of the taxpayers.” At a time like now, when inflation is at an all-time high, gas and food prices are at an all-time high, we need leadership that knows how to budget and spend wisely!
Augusta needs some critical action. I believe that begins with respect. As mayor, I will be responsible for establishing positive relationships with each member of the commission, finding common ground, and understanding the needs of each district. This will be a new foundation for effective change.
Among many topics, public transportation could use a change. I hear it over and over again. In fact, out on the campaign trail, I saw it for myself. A city bus driver came up to me and said, “If there’s one thing about public transportation that needs fixing, it’s that we need better equipment to do it in.” Ten minutes later, her bus was broken down on the side of the road. How do we expect people to chase their dream jobs, to save enough money to buy a home, or to strive for a better life if they can’t even rely on a way to get around the city? There are already some American Rescue Plan dollars earmarked for electric buses, but those buses don’t do any good if we don’t reach the people who need the routes. As mayor, I will begin the process of creating efficiency routes and I have the contacts at both the state and federal level to accomplish this.
As we look at ways to improve the city, we all love, I believe it’s a two-way conversation. From the beginning of this campaign, I have invited the community to tell me their thoughts, their wants, and their visions for Augusta. Desire for that input will not stop on election day. People who live, work, and pay taxes in this city should have the loudest voices – and someone at the top needs to be held accountable to them. I’ve already told you I won’t take the taxpayer-funded perks of the mayor’s office, like the city car or gas card, or the city-funded travel. It’s a small sacrifice I can make to show Augustans your voice and your input in this community matters. Together, we will get results for this city.
That’s why my rallying call has been “Growth, Action, Results.” Those are the three steps to kick Augusta out of the “potential” everyone talks about and into the realized results it deserves. If you dare to serve this city with me, together we can get Augusta winning again! If any of this resonates with you, I hope I have earned your vote on June 21st. With humble hopes to be your next mayor, Garnett Johnson.
