Q&A With Peachtree Corners City Council Candidate Robert Byars

Peachtree Corners Patch asked the 20 candidates for the six council seats on the new Peachtree Corners City Council a series of questions relating to city government for the upcoming Municipal Election on March 6, 2012.

Each of the candidates were asked the same set of questions. The last question we posed was to ask each candidate to compose his or her own question and then provide the answer.

Patch introduces Robert Byars, one of four candidates seeking to fill the council seat for Post 4.

Name: Robert Byars, age 31

Lived in Peachtree Corners: 4 years

Educational background: Morehouse College – B.A. Sociology, Minor In Criminal Justice; Clark Atlanta University – Masters of Social Work

Family: Married, Safiya – Wife of 7 years, Olivia – Daughter (3 years old)

Military background: N/A

Occupation: Medical Social Worker at Grady Memorial Hospital

What experience in your background do you think has best prepared you for serving on the Peachtree Corners council?

Ever since the age of 8, I have been dedicated to working for my community either through community service, neighborhood leadership and my profession.  I am an Eagle Scout and follow the Scout Oath and Law down to the letter. 

I have had the honor of serving on the Brookwood Home Owners Association and during my tenure I helped to cut the financial deficit that we had been facing for years.  In addition, I lead the effort to initiate the Gwinnett C.O.P.S. program where block captains and home owners became active in protecting our neighborhood.

I am a graduate of the Gwinnett Neighborhood Leadership Institute and I currently serve on the Board of Directors for 2nd Step Ministries, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing the cycle of relapse and recidivism of women recovering from drug and alcohol addiction through peer to peer interaction. 

As a Social Worker at Grady Memorial Hospital, I have been able to work with a wide demographic population consisting of various ethnic, social and financial backgrounds.   Finally, as a former candidate for the Board of Commissioners for Gwinnett County, I have gained associations with city officials from all over the county in which I have learned how best to serve the citizens of municipalities.  I have worked closely with the UPCCA in helping what we now know as the City of Peachtree Corners come into existence. 

I know that citizen interaction is imperative, so whether it is door-to-door or phone calls, getting to know what the citizen’s need take priority when serving our great community.

Tell Peachtree Corners readers about your vision for the new city and how you would accomplish it?

I see the City of Peachtree Corners developing both socially and economically.  I would like for us to maintain the vision that Paul Duke conceived by having a “live, work and play” community.  I believe that we must not only have an attractive community for young families and businesses, but also be supportive of the aging population that has helped build our city. 

With proper zoning decisions, we will be able to maintain the dignity of the area and determine future development that benefits us all. I will work with areas like Tech Park and The Forum to help them further develop and attract consumers and new businesses. 

I will work closely with the officers of the Gwinnett County Police Department West Precinct in order to keep them informed of troubles in the community, as well as to keep the citizens aware of local crime statistics and initiatives to establish in order to better protect their neighborhoods.

Most importantly, I will be working closely with you, my neighbors, along with HOA’s community organizations, church institutions, and business owners. By doing this, I will be able to have a better sense of what is needed in the community and will be able to address it to my fellow council members. 

I will work to see that your protection by referendum is maintained, the city upholds its integrity by just governance, and that the citizens of Peachtree Corners receive the participatory government that it deserves.

What do you think is the greatest challenge facing Peachtree Corners, and how would you approach it?

The greatest challenge that I see facing the city is that we still have a population that is divided on whether the city will live up to its expectations. Will there be wasteful spending?  Will the millage rate be raised?  Will the city council adhere to the charter?  Will parts of the city be forgotten about? 

The challenge comes in the form of: Is the City Council doing everything possible to represent the tax-paying citizen in Peachtree Corners?  I believe in open and honest communication, and I believe that you never say anything that you cannot backup 100%.  So when I say that I will work for you and want to gain your trust as a neighbor that you elected to City Council, my actions and decisions will clearly reflect that. 

I will not waste your tax dollars.  I will work to keep Peachtree Corners a thriving community so that your family and my family will be able to continue to grow and thrive here.  It is inevitable that any city will see its set of challenges, but I believe that proper planning for the future and a system of community support will help meet those trials head-on and any difficult hurdle will be able to be cleared. I am one that believes in exceeding expectations. I believe in Peachtree Corners and its citizens.

There has been such rampant misusage of tax dollars, how do I know that this won’t occur on a local level? 

As I would go door-to-door campaigning for Peachtree Corners to become a city, I ran into many people who asked me this.  My response to them was simple: You have the power.  Unlike other cities, Peachtree Corners has been built off the idea that you can live here, you can work here, you can own a business here, you can watch your kids grow up here, and that you can retire here. 

At no point in time should you feel as if your local government is attempting to take advantage of you.  Your protection by referendum gives you the ability to say what you want and what you do not want the city to offer.  You can decide on the future of services through your vote.  Just like you can vote an individual in or out of office, you can dictate to your city council what the city needs to do more efficiently.  As your City Council representative, I will make your dollars work for you.