To the Editor

As a citizen of Thomasville I would like to address the letter of Oct. 22, 2009, from Terry Hill, Candidate for Mayor of Thomasville.

I really don’t understand where all the negative comments come from about the present council not wanting to listen to the citizens. I recently contacted the council and mayor about an issue that the city needed to address. I was able to speak with each council member and the Mayor at great lengths about this by phone. I was also told if I came before the council that I would have the two minute time limit but was given the opportunity to address my issue with Council Members in a committee meeting. At that meeting I was allowed to discuss my issue without a time limit. I felt much more comfortable addressing the Council Members in a conference room rather than in front of a television camera.

If everyone that wanted to address the council at their meetings were allowed to speak as long as they wanted to the meeting would probably last into the early morning hours.

I also want to address the attack on Councilman David Yemm. I am not a native of Thomasville but have come to know David Yemm as a hard working young man that has a big heart for the city of Thomasville. I agree with David in his desire for revitalization of the downtown. In our travels we love to visit small towns/cities but in our first visit to Thomasville we were very disappointed that there was so few businesses downtown. Revitalization is very important to any downtown area as that is what people see when they look to relocate here.

I encourage everyone that lives or owns property in the city to make their property as appealing as possible so this city can thrive as I have read it once did. I know Thomasville used to be a destination for funiture buyers but I would like to see people come here to see a busy little city full of life.

Just last week I was in Lexington, South Carolina and was amazed at the turn around that town had made in the last eight years. I was amazed to see old warehouses were now thriving business and that people seemed to be taking pride in what was happening in their city.

Take a look at Lexington or Mount Airy, N.C. Is revitalization not taking place there? There has been several new restaurants opened in the downtown area of Lexington in the last eight years it can happen here also. Hats off to Mr. Sebastian for the work he has done on the old theater building.

Let’s take it one building at a time creating one job at a time because Thomasville Furniture can no longer support the people of Thomasville.

I have no problem with any of the present council or mayor but I am just addressing the letter from Mr. Hill. I will be voting for David Yemm as I did in the last election because I have seen his dedication to Thomasville whether he is in the community garden, working with the Historical Preservation as a volunteer or his work on the council. I encourage everyone to go vote on election day and not just vote for the person but for the one that you think will make the biggest impact on the City of Thomasville.

Carol Brooks

Thomasville