Wow. Has it really been four years? I know it sounds cliché, but time has really flown. I just looked at the email I sent four years ago announcing that I was running for Mauldin City Council and “how I got from Point A to Point B” in terms of that decision to run.
I’m writing you today to let you know that the paperwork has been filed and that I am running for reelection for Seat 1 on Mauldin City Council.
After I announced my candidacy four years ago, I got a call from the mayor inviting me to lunch and will never forget how that conversation started. “Taft,” he said, “when somebody announces they’re running for council, I like to sit down with them and see where their head’s at. I want to know why they’re running.”
I told him the same thing I told people as I knocked on doors.
I wanted to focus on economic development, public safety, and recreation. I told him, “Those are the areas I know, and those are the areas I can have the biggest influence.” He nodded and said if I got elected those would be the committees he’d assign me to serve. With your help, I won, and the mayor kept his word.
From a recreation standpoint, we expanded youth programming with new sports and reenergized our focus on existing sports – increasing registration numbers across the board.
In terms of public safety, we renewed the international accreditation of our police department and added more officers. In the fire department, we added opportunities for training and professional development and implemented a program to increase EMT capabilities to address the growing number of medical calls where firefighters arrive on scene before EMS.
Regarding economic development, it’s tough to even know where to begin. We created the Community Development Department so Mauldin could market itself instead of relying on outside groups to recruit new business. We added nearly 2000 jobs as we recruited new companies and helped existing companies expand. Just weeks after announcing one transformative development (CenterPointe), we’re close to announcing plans that will revitalize the downtown area. With concerts and events, we’re turning the Mauldin Cultural Center in to a destination instead of just being “the old elementary school.”
We’re making the kind of progress I said four years ago that I wanted to be a part of, but that work isn’t finished, and that’s why I’m running again.
I need your help to do it, and there are several ways you can give that help.
First, whether or not you’re able to vote in Mauldin, Addy, Trey, and I need your prayers. They’ve sacrificed a lot over the past four years and have been extremely understanding when I couldn’t be somewhere with them because I was working for the city.
Second, I’m asking for your financial support. I need your help to spread our message to the city’s voters. State ethics laws limit contributions to $1000 per person per election cycle, but every dollar makes a difference, and I appreciate any help you can provide. Checks can be made to Matney for Mauldin City Council, or you can donate online.
Third, we need your volunteer help. There’s a lot of ground to cover and a lot of doors to knock. If you can help in your neighborhood and organize people to reach out, that would be extremely helpful. I also ask that you talk about this campaign to your friends and family members who live in Mauldin. I want their help, too.
Fourth, I need your house. If you’re willing to host a get together and want me to come to talk with your friends and neighbors, I’d love the opportunity to do it. I also hope we can use your home or business for a sign location.
Finally, I need your vote. The candidate with the most votes wins, so right now, I’m asking for your vote on November 7. We can’t win without you.
Thank you for everything you’ve done over the past four years. With your support, we’ll have another four years to keep working to move Mauldin forward.
Sincerely,
Taft
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