Bullock Seeks Second Council Term To Continue Work For Neighborhood Safety, Housing Quality And Walkability

Ward 2 Councilman Tom Bullock is running for a second term to continue his work to keep Lakewood safe, clean, and family friendly, improve housing quality, and make Lakewood the leading walking, green city in Ohio. Bullock is unopposed.

September 18, 2011– Ward 2 Councilman Tom Bullock said today he is running for a second term to continue his work to keep Lakewood safe, clean, and family friendly, improve housing quality, and make Lakewood the leading walking, green city in Ohio. Bullock is unopposed.

Bullock said as he approaches the end of his first term, he’s as energized as ever to work for the community.

“After four years, I still believe in Lakewood. I am still excited to work for this vibrant community,” said Bullock. “I am still energized by this job and the honor of serving residents.”

Bullock said in his first term he’s worked to make progress on safety, housing enforcement, and responsible budgeting. Among the most important accomplishments of his first term are:

• putting more police in neighborhoods, expanding block clubs, and strengthening chronic nuisance enforcement;
• increasing housing enforcement;
• structurally-balancing the budget and increasing the City’s bond rating;
• expanding farmers markets, initiating bicycle and pedestrian improvements, and increasing recycling and conservation.

Bullock said he’ll continue this work over the next four years. His priorities in his second term will include:

• continuing to improve housing quality through more efficient Building Department procedures and expanded enforcement;
• continuing to strengthen neighborhood safety through community policing, block clubs, and helping residents resolve problems;
• slowing down neighborhood speeding by using traffic-calming;
• taking the first steps to implement a comprehensive bicycle and pedestrian plan;
• budgeting to fund downtown streetscape improvements and an improved street paving schedule; and
• identifying strategic options for Lakewood to invest in new housing stock (such as cluster homes for retirees), grow the commercial corridor, and attract and retain homeowners so our City grows to 60,000 by the next census.

Bullock, who is the second-most senior member of Council and has more than 16 years of professional experience in government and public service, said his experience will be important to City Hall, which recently underwent big changes--including a new Mayor and three new Councilpersons.

“Some times call for change, while some call for continuity,” observed Bullock. “These times call for continuity. For four years, Lakewood has been weathering a difficult economic storm and overcoming a structural budget deficit. We put ourselves on a solid and improving course, but now are contending with large budget cuts passed down from state government and a still-stalled economy. We are not yet out of difficult waters, so it is important we retain our discipline and stay on our careful course.”

Bullock said although he is unopposed, he is still actively meeting residents at block parties and community events and is using time that would have gone to campaigning to solve neighborhood problems and work on legislation in Council.

“Many of the best ideas I introduce on Council come directly from Lakewood residents,” said Bullock. “There's no substitute for talking to the people. I always learn something new.”