Editorial: Cannon, Lazenby bring clout to city council

Editorial
Published: August 25, 2008

Ward 3

With all due respect to other Opelika City Council races, Ward 3 is arguably the most intriguing. With councilman Jerry Teel stepping aside, it opened the door for five prospective candidates to fill his seat.
Ward 3’s race features quality to go along with quantity. Each candidate, Joey Motley, Lucinda Samford Cannon, Preston Long, Janice Golden and Lauren Sutton, brings experience, ideas and strong leadership potential to the table and we feel positive that Opelika voters cannot go wrong with whomever they elect.

That said, the Opelika-Auburn News believes Cannon is the best choice to lead this ward for the next four years. Why? Cannon has the political clout and relationships with folks on state and locals levels to do more for the city – and get things done – than others.

Cannon’s local ties are deep-rooted. She has served on the Opelika Planning Commission for 18 months and served two terms as Opelika Chamber of Commerce chairman, among several reputable organizations. She is a major player in the city’s 20 Under 40 program, which helps cultivate tomorrow’s leaders.

The many organizations and activities give her a broad range of understanding and ability to get things done not just for Ward 3, but the city as a whole.
If we want to look at who’s going to get things done for Opelika, Lucinda Samford Cannon is the candidate we are looking at.

Ward 5
Dr. William Lazenby has done an excellent job of being a public servant. His attendance record – he’s missed only three council meetings since 2000, and attention to detail on the Opelika City Council is impeccable. He has been very responsive and dedicated to his constituents in Ward 5.

His challenger, Rick Gaught, a former Opelika police officer who is clearly interested in the needs of city employees, did not have an answer as to why it was time for Lazenby to be removed from office.

A tireless worker, Lazenby he understands the inner-workings of arguably one of the city’s greatest assets – East Alabama Medical Center. Lazenby worked as a general surgeon at the hospital from 1964 until his retirement in 1991 and is widely regarded as one of the best physicians east Alabama has ever known. Lazenby, who served on the hospital’s board for 36 years, turned his focus to the city’s needs eight years ago.

Lazenby said his focus for Ward 5 continues to be an emphasis on education, transportation and crime prevention. With the arrival of Celebrate Alabama, Ward 5 figures to be on the verge of explosive growth in coming years industrially, commercially and residentially.

Lazenby has shown no reason why he should not be the man representing this important area.