News release from the Paddock for City Council campaign:
Geoff Paddock announces for re-election to City Council
(January 8, 2015) – Councilman Geoff Paddock announced today that he would seek a second term on the Fort Wayne City Council. He represents the Fifth District and was elected in 2011. He previously served a four year term on the Board of Trustees of the Fort Wayne Community Schools. He has served as the Executive Director of the Headwaters Park Flood Control Project since January of 1993.
“It has been an honor to work with Mayor Tom Henry and my colleagues on the City Council for the past three years. Thanks to the leadership and guidance of Mayor Henry, Fort Wayne is poised for strong economic growth during the next few years. I want to play a role in that and work towards more economic development for downtown, and infrastructure improvements for our neighborhoods,” Paddock said.
During his three years on City Council, Paddock has worked on a bi-partisan level for progress in our city. He successfully sponsored legislation to strengthen the Drug House Ordinance, and preserve brick streets and alleys in the central portion of the city. He worked with two Republican colleagues to tighten restrictions and promote more accountability with tax abatements (now referred to as tax phase ins.) Paddock also worked with colleagues to approve the acquisition of Aqua Indiana’s water utility in southwest Fort Wayne and fund additional improvements to water and sewer lines. He also worked across party lines to enact city budgets that increased the number of police officers and firefighters, made improvements to City Utilities, and speeded along the much needed resurfacing of neighborhood streets and sidewalks.
Paddock has been a strong voice for neighborhoods and is working on a plan for corridor improvements in the south and near southwest portions of the city. He will also continue to work with Mayor Henry on the development of the Ash Brokerage project and the development of more downtown living space.
“I would like to continue to be a voice for neighborhoods and make sure we are addressing their infrastructure needs during the next four years. Since most of the downtown area resides within the Fifth District, I also hope to be a voice for further downtown development and riverfront development. Many of the jobs coming in the next few years will be as a result of downtown and riverfront development,” Paddock said.
Paddock has also worked for over a decade to advocate for the return of passenger rail service to Fort Wayne. Currently, he is working with the Northeast Indiana Passenger Rail Association and several cities in Indiana and Ohio to raise funds for an environmental impact study for a proposed route from Fort Wayne to Chicago and Columbus, Ohio.
“The success of this project could be enormous for Fort Wayne. I want to continue to work on this, as we have made progress during the past three years,” Paddock said. “A good transportation system is the key to keeping industry coming to Fort Wayne and encouraging development of neighborhoods near the Baker Street Train Station.”
Another important priority will be the wise use and prudent investment of Legacy dollars. Paddock serves on the Legacy Joint Funding Committee along with Councilmen Tom Didier and Tom Smith. He pledged to serve on the committee to strike a balance between the investment of the Indiana Michigan Power settlement dollars and in saving millions of dollars for the future.
“This is an exciting time for our city. I want to continue to work with Mayor Henry and my colleagues on City Council to build on the momentum we are experiencing. It is also important to work each year to craft a budget that meets our needs but also provides efficient services to the taxpayers of Fort Wayne. I have a good record in this area and want to continue to be a voice for fiscal responsibility in a second term on City Council”, Paddock added.
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