150 attend Macon-Bibb’s first mayoral forum

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – About 150 people met at the Douglass Theatre in Downtown Macon Tuesday night for Macon-Bibb’s first mayoral forum.

Former Bibb Commissioner Lonzy Edwards said his vision for the county is inclusiveness. He wants every neighborhood to know they have the same amount of representation.

“When the mayor talks glowingly about how much progress is being made, maybe he should stop by the Unionville neighborhood, maybe go stop by East Macon. Maybe he ought to stop by South Macon and ask the people there about the progress he claims is taking place,” said Edwards.

Edwards said he wants to revisit the extent to which local government is involved in the education system. He believes the local government should have some influence in the Bibb County School District’s Board of Education’s decisions in order to improve education levels in the county.

Edwards said the biggest challenge facing the community is poverty. He thinks poverty is the reason Macon-Bibb’s state health ranking is so low. He wants to focus on bringing better jobs to the community in order to address both issues.

Mayor Robert Reichert commended the initial work of the consolidated government. He said the downtown focus isn’t excluding people.

“It’s everybody’s downtown and I admit and acknowledge that we’re working in the downtown area, but certainly not to the exclusion of other neighborhoods. The 5 by 5 program, where we go in for five weeks at a time and deliver intensified services in a five square block area, we’ve been through all nine commission districts twice,” explained Reichert.

Reichert said the best part about the newly consolidated government is the unification it has brought to the community. He believes the worst part about the change has been the frustration people have had over how quickly progress is being made. He assured the crowd the government will continue to move forward if re-elected.

Reichert plans to continue a close relationship with the Macon-Bibb County Industrial Authority in order to bring jobs to the county. He said the way to attract more technological providers to the area is to have a robust local economy.

Early voting in Macon-Bibb begins May 2. Election Day is May 24.