R.L. Smith, City Council, Ward 2

R.L. Smith, Ward 2, Lawton City Council:

1. What should the priorities be for the new Capital Improvements Program approved by voters in August?

The money is divided into three areas, half of a percent goes toward funding emergency fund and public safety wages. This will help us recruit and retain the best police and firefighters. A quarter of a percent goes toward funding roads, streets and bridges. I understand that heavily trafficked roads are important, but we need to ensure that we are not neglecting our neighborhood streets that we all drive on daily. A quarter of a percent goes towards public parks and amenities. I understand the need to realign parks across the city and as a real estate agent I know first hand the value of a neighborhood park, but I believe we need to put more funding into the animal shelter.

2. What would best serve your ward: upgrades to water/sewer lines and roads, or demolition of deteriorating structures? Why?

The City Council cannot afford to have a single priority. Lawton is simply too big to have one overarching priority that consumes all of our resources. Funding for police and fire must be a part of every conversation. We need to fund our first responders so that we can recruit and retain the best. We need to make better strides at fixing our infrastructure — roads, bridges and waterlines. We need a more timely response to water leaks and small potholes. We need to balance landowner rights with the health of the community and continue to remove condemned properties that threaten the health and safety of our residents.

Biography:

With more than 20 years of experience, R.L. Smith retired as a sergeant from Lawton Police Department in 2005. During his tenure, he was coordinator for Lawton’s Cops and Kids Picnic and Lawton Southside Youth Rally, and hosted Lawton’s Law Enforcement Day. He also worked with the Crime Prevention and Neighborhood Watch programs. Smith also served in the U.S. Army, joining in 1977 and while stationed at Fort Sill, met and married his wife of 46 years, Billie Hisle Smith. The couple has two children and six grandchildren. A realtor in the Lawton area, he is a member of the Lawton Chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police and is active in Rotary Club of Greater Lawton. As an ordained minister, the couple founded The Marriage Connection and he was cofounder and president for Meet the Needs Inc.