Jim's Views on the Issues

On Crime: When elected, I will decrease crime in the city’s low-income areas, by any means necessary. Certain ordinances need to be enacted, or written out of city law, specifically laws that pertain to rent control issues. I will have an increased police presence on Oak Mountain Road to decrease exceeding the speed limit through this area.

On city finance and budget: We, as a city, should keep spending down while paying off the debts that we have accrued. Too much money has been spent at one time on unnecessary additions to the city.

On Traffic: When elected Mayor of Pelham, I will have a traffic signal placed at the intersection of Highway 31 and Amphitheater Road. The City has needed a signal here for quite some time now. I will also lengthen the timing of signals on Highway 31, so as to keep traffic moving as much as possible. In addition to those changes on Highway 31, I will work with the proper highway department to have a light placed at the entrance to the Shelby County Branch YMCA.

On the appearance of Highway 31: Certain areas need to be analyzed on Highway 31, as there are a couple of areas that have become eyesores on the main traffic artery of the city. When elected, I will work with the City’s Beautification Board to improve these areas.

On Pelham's growth: As Mayor, I will work tirelessly to ensure that new businesses and restaurants view our city as a viable option when locations in the area are being sought out.

On the City’s recreational facilities: As your Mayor, I will work with City Council Members to pay off the debt that has been accrued by the new recreational facilities in Pelham. While executing the process of paying off these debts, I will see to it that the city pays closer attention to the amount of funds and resources that are put into the facilities. Also, I will assure that the Civic Complex is completely booked as often as possible, so that it will not seem like it is being wasted as a facility.

On our City’s schools: As Mayor, I will work diligently with the Shelby County Board of Education to improve the appearance of our City’s schools. Especially Valley Elementary school, which has far too many classroom trailers on its campus.

On the amount of illegal immigrants in Pelham: This is a topic that has been intensely debated both locally and nationally over the past few years. While we are all aware that there has been an extreme influx of immigrants, both legal and illegal, in our city recently, it is a very tough issue to define resolutions for. The reason for that is simply because most immigration discretions are handled on a Federal level. I will say that I have absolutely no problem with people from all over the world coming to our great country for the opportunities and better lives that we offer to them. Having said that, I believe that there is a mandated process for achieving citizenship in our country, and I whole-heartedly believe that this process should be followed explicitly. 

On our community's senior citizens: As Pelham's Mayor, I would like to see our senior citizens get a discount on their weekly garbage pick-up.
 

These are just a few of the hot topics that will be addressed when I am elected your Mayor. While my staff and I will work to improve these issues, we will still require your vote in August to see these ideas come to fruition. Please continue to check this page, as we will be addressing several other topics as the election day draws nearer.

 - Jim Martin