Debbie Campbel's Formal Speech Yesterday

Today I ask for your support as I announce that I will run for a second term as your representative on the Salisbury City Council. I have chosen this spot for my announcement because a neighborhood police substation used to be located just behind me. This location illustrates much of what needs to be changed in Salisbury. Several weeks ago other concerned citizens and I were told by armed police officers that it was too dangerous for us to proceed down this street, even with their escort.

Citizens are tired of inaction and a lack of accountability by many of those elected to represent them. I share the citizens’ and taxpayers’ frustration and have worked tirelessly to move our city government in a more fiscally responsible, proactive direction.

Nearly four years ago I asked for your help in making Salisbury a better city - a better city for homeowners, a better city for renters, and a better city for the businesses that employ so many of our residents. We have made some progress, but not nearly enough.

We are overtaxed and our precious tax dollars are spent recklessly with little to no regard for the needs of those who live and work here.

Do you want the city to spend your tax dollars on another developer subsidy or on additional police officers for safer streets?

Do you want to pay for more studies or do you want elected officials to get down to the business of repairing our crumbling infrastructure?

Did you know that city's property tax rate now exceeds that of Wicomico County's?

Whether you are a homeowner, renter or local business owner, you are paying higher taxes.

What have we received in return for these higher taxes? A higher crime rate. More bureaucracy. A $10 million fire station that should have cost less than $5 million. Yet, certain individuals are able to receive multi-million subsidies, which the rest of us are forced to pay with our hard-earned tax dollars.

Many in Salisbury have become discouraged. I am not one of them. I believe in my heart that Salisbury can once again truly be the “Crossroads of Delmarva,” and not just a slogan on a sign. Not just a punch line for a brochure. Yes, I honestly believe that Salisbury can once again not only be the leading center of commerce on the Eastern Shore, but also the absolute best place to raise a family, build a career, or enjoy a hard-earned retirement.

That is why I have come before you today to ask for your help and your active support in re-electing me to the Salisbury City Council.

During this term, I've worked hard on behalf of Salisbury and on your behalf as taxpayers and citizens. I admit that it has sometimes been a struggle with opposition that will not entertain a different point of view.

Just 18 months ago I, along with Councilwoman Terry Cohen, was able to stave off a 10% increase in our water and sewer bills. Unfortunately, the Mayor and current council majority have since chosen to hit us all with even more increases without any effort to find other solutions.

With the help of my fellow citizens, we have been able to force more transparency from our city government. This is what we can achieve when we work TOGETHER.

We have been hit with a double-digit property tax increase in the last two years. IF the current administration and its friends on council have their way, we may well be hit with another come spring. With the help of the hard-working citizens of Salisbury, we can stop this while ensuring the needs of our city are met.

TOGETHER, we can build a Salisbury whose future is bright.

But right now, spending is out of control. I don’t know anyone who feels safer in their home. Other elected officials are treating our river like an open sewer. There is no real accountability. I stand before you and state, with conviction, that I will continue to work hard for you and that if voters have the will, we can break the stronghold that has been choking our city and its taxpayers for far too long.

We can bring city services to a level EXPECTED by our residents and businesses. We can do this without increasing taxes.

How?

By treating OUR money, OUR tax dollars, as if they are just that OUR TAX DOLLARS. NOT the city's money. NOT “General Fund Revenue.” BUT AS THE CITIZENS’ HARD EARNED TAX DOLLARS.

The city can stop wasting OUR money on small items like bottled water. The city can stop wasting OUR money on countless “studies” and “reports” that cost us tens of thousands of dollars each year, yet accomplish nothing for our citizens. The city can stop wasting millions of OUR dollars on subsidies to a privileged few; or millions more on monuments to the egos of our politicians without providing a justifiably bigger or better service to the men, women and children of Salisbury.

We can show our existing businesses that they are welcome members of our community. Rather than providing a better climate for our local employers through lower crime rates, lower taxes, and more efficient government services the current Salisbury policy is to ignore our existing businesses – again, except for a privileged few who receive subsidies from the taxpayer. When companies are brought in from outside the area, it is often with a poorly thought out and widely applied scheme of tax abatements that have local businesses subsidizing their own competition.

We need to encourage new business to come to Salisbury; not by “bribing” them – which seldom brings the type of business we need, or want – but by building a Salisbury that is a good climate for business. A city with low taxes, a fair tax structure, one with less – not more – bureaucracy. This is how we build a better future for ourselves – and our children.

Last, and certainly not least, I want to speak to you about crime. I stand before you to say that we do NOT have to accept the status quo or be resigned to higher crime as a by-product of a growing city! The escalating crime rate in our neighborhoods CANNOT, SHOULD NOT, MUST NOT be accepted.

Murders have taken place just a few blocks from my home. On the same streets where our children ride their bikes. Drug dealing, assaults, and burglaries take place in almost every neighborhood of our city. What has been the solution to date?

More money on bureaucracy, while spending less than needed on law enforcement. Closing our police substations. Ignoring a problem until it becomes a PUBLIC DISGRACE – then making a grandiose show while accomplishing little to nothing.

I do not stand before you today and claim that we can solve the problems of the world. I do believe that we can affect positive change here in our own little part of that world. I don't claim to have all of the answers. I do claim, that with your help, we can make Salisbury a better place for ourselves and our neighbors.

Salisbury, the “Crossroads of Delmarva” is truly at a crossroads.

Although we are facing the most challenging economic picture in decades, I believe that by putting taxpayers ahead of special interests and a privileged few, by exercising true fiscal responsibility, and by focusing on citizen priorities like crime, jobs and our environment, we can restore our city’s health and usher in a period of real progress and prosperity.
With the support and cooperation of the good citizens of Salisbury, with YOUR action and YOUR vote, I’ll continue to work hard to ensure that our best days are still ahead,”

Thank you.