Why Is Fayetteville Public Safety One of Walt's Top Interest Areas?

The primary function of local government is to ensure the safety of its citizens. As Mayor I will be the chief executive officer for the city. I will be responsible for hiring, retaining and directing the city staff. Our police, firefighters and EMTs are our first responders. As the city population grows denser, annexes additional areas, grows up with more multi-story buildings and grows more diverse, our public safety strategies must change to meet the new conditions. The Mayor must work to assure citizens that, in the event of fire, accident, crime, illness, natural event or hazmat incident, our first responders are staffed, trained and equipped to meet the challenge.

A simple thing like expanding and connecting our trail system and parks requires a reallocation of resources to ensure that citizens are protected at all times. Growth will require additional resources and additional voter commitment.

Increased demands for public safety will require exceptional management skills, creativity and commitment. The Mayor must work closely with his staff to make the best judgments for the citizens. That is my experience in corporate business, and that is what I will bring to the office of Mayor.

Read the full Public Safety Position Paper here.