My name is Ralph Morrow. I am running for the office of Mayor. I have held this position 4 times in the past and have served this town as a Councilmember twice. I am a retired business owner and property owner. I am running again for many of the reasons I began in City politics years ago.
Our water situation is critical. We are approaching further rationing and restrictions just before our busiest part of the year. We are not serving our residents and visitors to the level we should.
My name is Ralph Morrow. I am running for the office of Mayor. I have held this position 4 times in the past and have served this town as a Councilmember twice. I am a retired business owner and property owner. I am running again for many of the reasons I began in City politics years ago.
Our water situation is critical. We are approaching further rationing and restrictions just before our busiest part of the year. We are not serving our residents and visitors to the level we should.
This situation is directly related to a lack of leadership, planning, and clear direction provided to City staff by the Council. We have been in this drought condition for years with little or no progress.
Water conservation, water production, water infrastructure, water storage are all critical pieces to the recovery of Avalon. Without water, no beneficial project can be considered. Without water, all Avalon can do is survive and hope we do not chase away the many visitors that keep this town working.
The recent termination of our City Manager was poorly timed, lacked the requisite planning, and put Avalon in a critical leadership crisis. Avalon needs a qualified and well trained City Manager.
It takes about a year to choose, hire and train a City Manager who can be effective in this town. I know, I have worked with every City Manager in the past 30 years and as Mayor and Councilmember have been involved in hiring several in the past.
Our City infrastructure is crumbling. Due to our current financial condition, the necessary repairs, upgrades, and maintenance cannot be done. State and Federal money once relied upon is no longer available to us. We need to work with Edison, The Island Company, and others to find another way to maintain and improve our infrastructure.
Experience is more important now than ever. Relationships are more important now than ever. We cannot afford to have an inexperienced Council or Mayor that has no knowledge of the past successes and failures.
Wasting time and resources on approaches that have tried and failed in the past is futile. Let’s focus on how we were successful in the past and avoid the mistakes we seem to be repeating again and again. My experience and the relationships I have established over the years will be key in bringing the people, politicians, and organizations together that can get things done for Avalon.
I would like to thank the citizens of Avalon for their support in the past and pledge, once again, my dedication to Avalon and what needs to be done here.
With so much to do, Avalon cannot afford to elect “single issue” or inexperienced candidates. It’s too important. I will dedicate the time and energy it takes to do the job that needs to be done.
With your vote, I will work to pursue the solutions for the short-term problems and provide a direction for the council to plan for the future.
