FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY Every year during my tenure, I have supported a no-tax increase budget, including this current year. Charleston County has a AAA credit rating. Reaching across party lines for solutions, I am committed to a no-tax-increase budget for the fiscal year starting July 2009, by reducing $7.8 million from County spending. I have already held multiple Functional Review meetings with department heads, and met with other county elected officials, looking for more ways to save you money. We are looking to avoid layoffs if at all possible. We are working hard to find the $7.8 million in a thousand places, and I am committed to making that happen for you. As I pledged in 2005, I will be accountable to you for your tax dollars. I absolutely will NOT support a tax increase. I cancelled the automatic pay increase for Council members. I have capped our spending on the County attorneys fees. In today's economy, people are tightening their belts and spending less, so as a result, less sales tax is generated. Our county budget relies heavily on sales tax revenue, so we are tightening our belts. Charleston County is in good fiscal shape as long as we reduce our expenses to match our reduced income. LOOKING OUT FOR WEST ASHLEY As the first District Council member for District 7, I have committed myself to being accountable to the residents of District 7. I attend neighborhood meetings regularly. I hold “Coffee with Colleen” every Thursday 8AM to 9AM at Sojourn Coffee, 1664 D Olde Towne Road. I have answered thousands of constituent service requests, connecting them with the answers they need, from Charleston County, City Council members, or statehouse members. I work with the residents of West Ashley to accomplish your goals and make sure West Ashley gets its fair share of road and park funding. West Ashley has received over $11 million in parks and $14 million in other public works projects during my tenure. See the list below. TRAFFIC During my service on Council, we have approved bike paths, sidewalks, and other road projects totaling over $13.5 million, as well as projects in other areas that provide relief for us. A list of these projects can be found on my website. We have several clogged and dangerous bottlenecks that severely affect the commute time of District 7 residents. The Glen McConnell Parkway area at the intersections with 526 and with Magwood Road is frightening. After receiving your input at several public meetings and neighborhood meetings, County Council has approved an $8 million plan for lane additions and enhancements, and construction will start in 2009. (See http://www.ccroadwise.org/glenn_526.html for more details.) Another area of concern is the intersection of Sam Rittenberg Boulevard (SC 7) and Old Towne Road (SC 171). On Friday, October 22nd, that intersection was dedicated in honor of my predecessor Barrett Lawrimore. Mr. Lawrimore’s service to Charleston County was an inspiration to us all. Constituents asked me to make that intersection a priority, and Council agreed with my request to fund a redesign to improve traffic flow. That conceptual redesign has been completed and approved by the City of Charleston and SC Department of Transportation. The next stage of plans is being finalized now. We believe the intersection will be a T instead of a Y merge, and we will preserve all the plantings for the new median locations. Full funding for the Barrett S. Lawrimore Memorial Intersection is on the next round of Council road projects to approve. Also under design are improvements for the Highway 61/Highway 7 intersection. Some folks do not understand, but most of our West Ashley traffic frustrations are caused by uncontrolled growth all outside District 7 and mostly from the rural areas past beyond us. It is important that I address sprawl in the rural areas since it adds traffics to our roads. The Mark Clark extension to Johns Island is in progress, and I voted to approve our contract with the state to build it. Johns Islanders are clogging Savannah Highway, Glen McConnell Parkway, and Main Road now. We need relief on those roads and more options to get to Johns Island, but we want to make sure West Ashley also sees some benefits in the redesign. The Mark Clark Expressway is crowded enough, and the initial plans did not include any widening in the Ashley River Road corridor which is so badly needed. I want to make sure that West Ashley gets real relief from the Mark Clark project. See the state website for updates on this project -http://www.dot.state.sc.us/I526/default.shtml. ENHANCED RECYCLING AND OUR SOLID WASTE PROBLEM Continuing the same use of the Bees Ferry Road landfill, or the incinerator, or the land out in Parkers Ferry –none are good solutions. So Council is seeking other choices. Bees Ferry Road Landfill opened in 1978, when Bees Ferry Road was “way past” most West Ashley suburbs. Based on current trash dumping, household trash at the Bees Ferry Landfill could reach 172 feet tall by the year 2030 or before (approximately the height of the round Holiday Inn). I do not want Mount Trashmore, and I know you do not either. More importantly our budget for Solid Waste this year is $41 million. That is also not acceptable. We can do better; we will do better and save money doing so. I am actively pursuing options such as enhanced recycling and a regional landfill outside Charleston County. Most Charlestonians are willing to recycle more; we just need greater opportunities to do so. County Council approved my Green for Green plan , as well as a proposal by Curtis Bostic this year. All County Green Initiatives can be found at http://www.charlestoncounty.org/GreenInitiatives.htm. The Green Ribbon Citizen committee and a nationally renowned consultant will help us design a first-rate recycling and solid waste plan for the next twenty years, that will cost you less. Parks approved for 1/2 cent sales tax funding Roads, sidewalks, bike paths approved for Public Works projects $11.4 Million in Roads approved for ˝ cents sales tax funding September 30, 2008 - Colleen receives green seal of approval from Conservation Voters of South Carolina.   To serve this community well, we must have cooperation among state, county, and city officials. I pledge to continue being a consensus builder using a common sense approach to getting things done for the citizens of Charleston County. If re-elected, I know that my job is to work with many constituencies to find common ground and address the concerns of Charleston County. As I walk through neighborhoods and meet West Ashley citizens, I ask what Charleston County can do better for them. I am working hard to earn the opportunity to continue to serve my neighbors and all the citizens of Charleston County. Colleen Condon District 7 Councilwoman

Colleen Volunteered as a Buddy with the Charleston Miracle League field opening Donate Now to help Colleen in her Re-election Campaign for Charleston County Council: