Sunday, April 19, 1998

Versie Brown, Kay Alexander for City Council

After the lively demise of the library bond issue last fall, Abilene residents might be forgiven for thinking City Hall has settled into a quiet, almost boring routine.

But city government never really slows down, and the challenges facing Abilene in a fast-changing global economy remain immense.

Fortunately, this year's City Council election has brought forward several strong candidates who seem ready to take on the new challenges.

And those challenges are varied. They include continued efforts to bring a diverse business foundation into Abilene, dealing with dwindling federal support for cities and improving technology. Neighborhood revitalization is perhaps our top need.

In the Place 5 race, we believe the Rev. Versie Brown is the best candidate to meet these goals.

Brown, pastor at Antioch CME Church, serves on the Carver neighborhood steering committee and has demonstrated a strong sense of how to balance neighborhood needs with those of the community as a whole.

He also wants to focus on crime prevention, especially among young people. When he talks about these goals, along with his support for economic development and fiscal conservatism, he exudes enthusiasm and a willingness to work with others to settle differences and make progress.

That's not to say Place 5 is an easy call. The race has attracted a strong field of candidates who've demonstrated a commitment to Abilene and who speak with passion about their ideas and concerns.

For Place 6, we endorse Kay Alexander for a second term. She has demonstrated a quiet determination to work for improvements in Abilene.

The regional director for the American Heart Association has shown she has a progressive vision for the city and a good temperment for pursuing it. She deserves re-election.