March 12, 2007 01:39 pm
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GREENSBURG - Sandy Biddinger filed her candidacy seeking the Republican nomination for the office of Mayor of Greensburg. Biddinger is asking the more than 5,500 voters in Greensburg to get involved, vote and make things happen - The May Primary starts the process, she noted.
“When you look at the history of the last four city elections, there have been contested races in only two of the four primaries due to a lack of candidates. The last primary was in 1999. In the 2003 General Election, there was a 43 percent voter turnout. As of yet, not all positions have contested races for the primary,” Biddinger said.
She is encouraging others to seek office and/or vote.
"Local leaders have to be relentless in getting issues resolved - water, airport, smoking verses non-smoking and how businesses have been affected, annexations, etc,” she said. “The City went through growing pains with the establishment of the industrial park in the 80’s paving the way for the perceived housing shortage in the 90’s. And with the projected economic growth and the development of housing, it’s somewhat like déjà vu - the community is at the beginning edge of another economic growth spurt. We need to be ready to tackle what’s ahead of us and not let it tackle us. These tremendous opportunities could become pitfalls without the proper planning.”
Biddinger grew up in Westport, graduated from South Decatur Junior-Senior High School in 1975, and is a graduate of Cumberland College in Williamsburg, Ky.
Biddinger started at WTRE in the early 1980’s as assistant news director, became operations manager in the mid-80’s and was named station manager in the mid-90’s. Throughout her 25-year career at WTRE Radio, she has covered numerous city and county meetings, events, and festivals, but as an observer. This is Biddinger’s first time seeking office, and she feels that the experience and knowledge gained have helped prepare her for the challenge.
“I will bring a fresh look to the issues facing the city - it won’t be ‘business as usual’,” Biddinger said. “This community is blessed with ‘people looking out for each other’ and we must strive to maintain what is good, identify what needs to be changed, involve folks of all ages and get excited about what lies ahead. The steps we take today are the footprints of tomorrow, let’s make them together.”
No matter what the outcome of this election is, Biddinger wants to remain a catalyst for change in this community. She is involved in the development of a Website at www.greensburgmatters.com, which she will use as an informational tool during the campaign and beyond. Biddinger wants to make "Greensburg matters" accessible in other ways. Possibilities include establishing communications with residents through e-mail, having the council meetings heard over the Internet, and establishing council district advisory committees.
Biddinger will not be on the radio during the campaign due to the FCC equal time issue. The equal time issue applies to a candidate even if he or she is not on the air campaigning.
“It does give the community a break from waking up to the same voice for over 20-years!” she joked.
Biddinger will continue to work for Reising Radio Partners as WTRE station manager.
“When I think about the campaign, it seems strange that this election I won’t be the one holding the mike, but instead the mike will be pointed at me on where I stand on the issues. I look forward to the campaign and the experience to be gained from being a candidate,” she said. “In the meantime, look for me on my front lawn on Main Street in Greensburg this spring - I’ll be listening.”
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