Election 2020: Q&A with Smiths Station Council Place 3 candidates
.png "Here are the candidates in the Smiths Station Council 3 race in the Aug. 25, 2020, municipal election (from left to right): Kamarcus Adkins, Steve Lansdon and William Spear.")
To help Phenix City and Smiths Station voters decide which local candidates to support in the Aug. 25 municipal elections, the Ledger-Enquirer is publishing a series of stories about the contested races in a Q&A format.
Today, we feature the Place 3 race on the Smiths Station Council. The candidates are Kamarcus Adkins, Steve Lansdon and William Spear. The incumbent, James Moody, isn’t running for re-election.
Adkins, 43, is unemployed and receiving medical disability payments. From 1994-2003, he was a store manager at Wright’s Market in Opelika. From 2004-13, he was an accounts manager at Coca-Cola Refreshments in West Point.
He is an assistant coach for the Elite Sunz AAU basketball team in Phenix City, a youth adviser for Creekstand Freewill Church in Opelika and a volunteer for the Phenix City Parks and Recreation Department.
Adkins graduated from Russell County High School. He earned an associate’s degree in industrial electricity from Southern Union State Community College.
Lansdon, 66, is retired after working 37 years at Southeastern Freight Lines, where he was a regional fleet service manager. His previous positions were mechanic and shop manager. He is the 2006 winner of the Technology and Maintenance Council’s national award for excellence in supervision.
He now works part time at Penske Trunk Rental.
Lansdon graduated from Columbus High School.
Spear, 71, is a school bus driver and substitute teacher for the Lee County Board of Education. He retired from Georgia Pacific after working 41 years as a forester.
He mentored youth in the Lee County juvenile court system for 17 years. He has been a member of Mount Zion Methodist Church for more than 50 years.
Spear graduated from Smiths Station High School.
Why should residents vote for you over your opponents?
Adkins: “I will look at today’s issues and opportunities from the perspective of what is the best long-term interest for our community. I will be honest and transparent with our citizens of Smiths Station. I will push for excellence and continuous improvement in all aspects and services while demanding solutions that are fiscally responsible. I will engage our citizens with respect and treat them as part of the team.”
Lansdon: “I can only speak for myself. When voting ‘Lansdon,’ you will get a dedicated, hardworking, honest individual. I have children and grandchildren in the city and wish only the best for them and our citizens. I want to prepare the City of Smiths Station for their future.”
Spear: “From my experience presently on the Smiths Station planning committee and past experience on the Smiths Station zoning committee and my experience with Georgia Pacific Corp.”
What is the most important issue in Smiths Station, and how should it be addressed?
Adkins: “Mental health is a major issue within Smiths Station, and I am trying to build a bridge between all generations as a community by bringing more awareness, open avenues for the next generation to express themselves and know that they are loved and that they are somebody. It’s not where you are from; it’s where you are going.”
Lansdon: “Sewage is one of the issues. Working with the state and federal government for funding is paramount. Without sewage, we’ll always have issues with new companies coming to our city.”
Spear: “Our future planned growth. Carefully monitor this future growth, both in residential and future business wanting to locate in Smiths Station.”
What else should voters know about you and this election?
Adkins: “I am an honest candidate who is looking for improvement in our community. I look into the interests of not only just the community but for the citizens as an honest and truthful human. I have mentored several children throughout East Alabama area, middle school through college. I look for the best interests and find what they want to accomplish in life and help try to accomplish those goals and guide them on the right path for their bright future.”
Lansdon: “I’m a family man. My wife of 47 years and I have been working and preparing for the future. Serving the citizens of the city is just one way to do this.”
Spear: “I am a down-to-earth type person that believes a lot in using good common sense in most decisions.”
