NoC News Bureau
In the fall 2010 LFUCG councilmember elections, District 1 councilmember Andrea James will not be seeking re-election. Two others have thrown in their hats for the 1st District seat. Below is background information provided by the candidates.
Marty Clifford
A 1976 Bryan Station High graduate, Clifford spent three years in the U.S. Army, leaving with an Honorable Discharge and the Good Conduct Medal. After serving in the Army, Clifford spent 20 years in California where he was self-employed in real estate finance and specialized in low-income housing.
In 1997 Clifford moved back to Kentucky and settled on the north side of Lexington. Here he has continued his real estate business with Clifford Properties. In 2002, Clifford started the North Limestone Neighborhood Association. His other community involvement has included attending the Citizens Police Academy and work on the Coordinated Central Sector Neighborhood Coalition. This coalition brought the concerns of the north side to city government and demonstrated the need for the Small Area Plan. The Small Area Plan developed into the Central Sector and the East End Small Area Plans, which were finalized and approved by the city in 2009.
Clifford says: “I will look to bring community voice to government first and then government voice to community. I will work tirelessly within the council but also look to try and bring some state programs into our community. I will also look to mount a massive volunteer base within the community to address community needs and strengthen community more—an even greater need now that city, state and federal programs are being cut.”
Chris Ford
Ford is a University of Kentucky graduate (class of 1998), and a former Wildcat football player. He earned his Masters of Public Administration degree from Western Kentucky University. Ford’s community service includes the Lexington Human Rights Commission, serving as a volunteer youth sports coach, and participation on the Boards of the First African Kanisa Apartments and Robert H. Williams Cultural Center.
Ford currently serves as the President & CEO of REACH, Inc., a local nonprofit housing agency that assists low to moderate income first-time homebuyers. A former LFUCG employee, Ford has recently contributed to LFUCG as an appointee to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund Commission, the Commission on Mortgage Lending Practices, and the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board.
In representing the culturally and economically diverse 1st District, Ford says he will focus on increasing affordable housing, implementing economic inclusion strategies, developing employment training opportunities, and ensuring efficiency in the delivery of basic governmental services such as public safety.
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