Butler gets our nod in the City Council First Ward race

In the Democratic primary race for Athens' First Ward, we support the re-election of council member Kent Butler. Running for his third term representing the west-side ward, Butler has been a quiet but responsible presence on council.
His opponent, Andrea DeMott, has a general idea about issues important to First Ward residents -- litter and neighborhood decline -- but is short on concrete or practical ways to address these problems. If poorly maintained rental properties are hurting west-side residential neighborhoods, as she says, then what can be done about it? If the answer is "planning," we need a little more than that.

Both candidates cite litter as a top issue in the First Ward, though addressing this issue is more of an administrative than a legislative chore. Credit Butler with recognizing this fact.

The two candidates also side with the administration and police chief on strong enforcement of the noise ordinance, a policy that directly targets OU students. Butler and DeMott both have suggested that student leaders' campaign to take the noise policy to the polls is unnecessarily divisive. Yet, this patronizing line of thought doesn't acknowledge the initial polarizing actions, the city deciding to bust students for noise without needing a complaint, and setting harsher penalties for violating the ordinance.

Butler's strongest asset is his willingness to listen to anyone who comes to him with a problem or issue. He genuinely cares about his constituents, the west side, and the city at large. We do hope that with two terms under his belt, Butler becomes a stronger force on council, willing to buck the majority support for the administration when good government calls for it.

Kent Butler has the advantage over his opponent in terms of experience. If you live in the First Ward, vote for Butler for your ward council member.