Current city council representative Andrew Faulkner, is running unopposed for his seat at this year’s city council elections.

Andrew Faulkner, R-Ward 6, first wanted to join the City Council to help people – a goal he continues to hold as he runs unopposed for his seat during this year’s elections.

“I got into politics — though I don’t consider myself a stereotypical politician — because I like to help people,” Faulkner said. “When I still lived at home with my parents when I was younger, any time they had an issue they would reach out to whoever their council person was at the time and I thought it was the coolest thing that someone could get an issue taken care of and make things happen. I wanted to be that person that if somebody had a problem they could count on me to take care of it for them.”

Part of what Faulkner enjoys about currently being on City Council is being able to answer questions and direct people to the right place. Being the person that can help people is his “main mission” he added.

Faulkner currently works as a union electrician. He said a lot of people in the city like the unions and while different political parties view unions differently he said he is a strong supporter of them. He praised the work of the police and fire unions in the city, saying that he wished the city could give them more to help them but that there needs to be a balance with what the city can afford.

Faulkner also reemphasized that he wishes to be able to help people and that he does not want someone to feel that they cannot call him if they have a problem.

When it comes to the state of some of the neighborhoods in the city, Faulkner said they are definitely in need of some help but that he also feels that the Department of Development is doing a good job working to change things and help them.

“I wish that the neighborhoods could be revitalized overnight but obviously it takes time,” Faulkner said. “I did meet at City Council last (time) a guy who has purchased a bunch of rentals in the city and he is kind of remodeling and renovating them and he seems like he is really doing it the right way. I had some good conversations with him about some things that could be changed to help streamline the process, like getting permits and the whole nine, just some things that would make it a little easier for the good people in town that are actually taking care of their properties.”

Faulkner added that it should not be difficult for people trying to take care of their properties to approach the city to do remodels or rehabs on their houses, saying it should be an easier, streamlined process, and this is something he hopes to be able to work with the Department of Development on.

Financially, with last year’s tight budget and the current preliminary budget for the current budget season seeing a 7.5% tax increase, Faulkner said he knows the city is going to be making some tough decisions in the near future as budget season continues. Other issues that have been seen and discussed at city council include whether or not Jamestown can be seen as a safe place to live, and Faulkner said to him it seems relatively safe, but there are some things in need of attention.

“I know people have come to the meetings and said they’re scared to walk around downtown at night or they’re scared to walk on the Riverwalk,” Faulkner said. “My wife and I actually bought electric longboards and we ride them on the Riverwalk a couple times in the summer, and it seems pretty safe. I’m downtown quite frequently and downtown seems pretty ok, but I know there are some areas in town that maybe I wouldn’t want to hang around after dark because there’s always some trouble with houses in certain neighborhoods. Our police department and the Department of Development are doing the best they can to remedy that.”

State level politics make it tough for things to happen as fast as Faulkner said he wished they could, but overall he said he would call Jamestown a relatively safe place to live, work and raise a family. He added that some places do need more attention but if the city can get those cleaned up more people that would take care of their properties would be attracted to the neighborhoods to help make that change.

Overall, Faulkner referred to Ward 6 as a great place to live, saying that he was “happy to help” as he looks towards his next term of another two years.