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Forum: Candidates emphasize water, taxes, public safety and transparency
Summary
At the Franklin Springs forum, city council and mayoral hopefuls prioritized water and sewer infrastructure, low taxes, public safety equipment and increased transparency; candidates offered different approaches to growth and use of city land.
Candidates for mayor and city council at the Franklin Springs Forum outlined priorities that repeatedly returned to water infrastructure, fiscal restraint and public safety.
Incumbent councilman Tom Wilson highlighted long service and said keeping taxes low and finishing the planned wastewater improvements were his priorities. “I pledge to work for effective and efficient services… I would like to improve and build on our water and sewer infrastructure,” Wilson said in his closing remarks.
Councilman Josh Waldman cited past work to lower taxes and said attracting local jobs is essential. He said he supports measured growth that preserves community values and emphasized investments in police and fire equipment made during his tenure.
Candidates also debated alcohol licensing, with broad agreement that sales under existing ordinances are acceptable but that new licenses should be evaluated case by case.
On transparency, mayoral candidates proposed improving the city website and social media, posting meeting recordings and reordering agendas so resident comments are considered before final votes. Several candidates suggested stronger public outreach and offering more accessible meeting records for residents who cannot attend in person.
The forum made clear that water-service reliability and system capacity are top voter concerns: candidates repeatedly returned to water pressure, tower repairs and the planned wastewater plant as concrete actions they would pursue if elected.
The event closed with candidates urging voters to research positions in the Franklin County Citizen Leader and to vote on Nov. 4.
