The future we hope to build together will require an investment of time and faith from the citizens of Beckley.  I will begin by rebuilding trust with Beckley's residents through a more effective, open and accessible municipal government.  The ideas presented here are deeply interconnected.  The urgent need to strengthen our neighborhoods is tied directly to actions to support a successful and stable economy.  

            Tony O. Martin, Candidate for Mayor of Beckley WV

Everyone In Beckley Should Feel Safe On Our Streets

From engaging citizens to taking on the drug trade, the benefit of building strong communities not only improves our quality of life, it's a good business move.  I will work to increase accountability, transparency and improve access to City Hall while providing new opportunities for community engagement.

To make our city brighter and safer, I will:

• Promote initiatives that help residents take back their streets.   The city will encourage and support public events, neighborhood festivals, and opportunities for community groups and organizations to take advantage of our public spaces.
• Strengthening where we live.  Beginning in our most neglected neighborhoods, the city will provide the resources necessary to improve parks, provide more activities and create a sense of place for area youth.
• Provide youth programs that go beyond sports. The city will develop partnerships with the community, our schools, colleges and universities in order to expand our youth programs to include technology and the arts.
• Develop a Mayor's Advisory Panel on critical city issues.  Composed of citizens, advocates, and city councilors, the Mayor's Advisory Panel will provide advice on critical issues such as the economy and public safety.

I've heard it loud and clear.  People want to be heard by their city government, and they want to be involved, and be sure their elected officials are acting in their interest.  You have felt shut out of the decision-making process for too long.

Creative Capital for a Thriving Economy

More and more cities are beginning to realize the arts and the economy are more closely linked than ever before.  Communities committed to the arts attract students and workers who are innovative and creative, the same characteristics employers value and that attract new business.  Together we will make Beckley the creative capital of West Virginia.

To invest in arts and artists, I will:

Establish Beckley Arts Council.  With a mandate to nurture creative and cultural development to support the artistic community in Beckley, this new cultural institution will: promote local artists in and around the city; engage private and public donors to support the arts in Beckley through fundraising; and provide guidance and support to help smaller arts and cultural organizations thrive.

Support and maintain our community and cultural facilities.  The city will work to provide the necessary resources to support and maintain our community-based arts and culture facilities and make city facilities more affordable for local productions.

A New Look

The revitalization of downtown is attracting people.  We will leverage the interests and assets of the merchant and arts communities on each other to create a more unique and compelling downtown experience that will result in a stimulated local economy,  a supported arts community and a higher level of civic pride.

To bring new life to downtown, I will:

Transform Downtown into a "Business/Arts and Culture District".  I will work to develop strategic partnerships with businesses, schools and arts organizations to begin transforming downtown from an unappealing business district to a lively Business/Arts & Culture District offering variety of weekly public events and festivals.

Establish the Downtown Beckley Partnership (DBP).  The DBP is a community based organization made up of downtown property owners, business owners and residents with the full support and resources of the City of Beckley that works to creatively plan, manage and develop Downtown Beckley as the unique, diverse, vibrant and economically healthy urban core of Southern West Virginia.

Use the Community Channel more effectively.  Downtown TV We will build on the full potential this channel provides our community and community-based organizations. The City will utilize the full potential of this channel as an educational tool for youth, a showcase for local talent and to aggressively market downtown our city and its cultural offerings to residents of Beckley and visitors alike.

A Growing Economy

I will encourage our city to embrace a culture of creativity, entrepreneurship and innovation to help our small business and creative sectors thrive in a competitive economy.  As a city we will capitalize on our potential to create new opportunities for ourselves and better ones for our children.

To grow our economy and create new opportunities, I will:

• Expand our technology and use it to engage residents and promote Beckley around the world;
• Support more creativity and innovation amongst our entrepreneurs and artists;
• Work collaboratively with citizens to identify and tackle tough issues to develop real solutions to solve our problems; and
• Make our city safe for all.