To fix Port Arthur streets, the city needs new revenue.

Whether its from a bond issue, or a new tax, Antoine Leonard Freeman Sr., is not convinced there is enough money in the city’s general budget to pay for street upgrades.

If elected to the Port Arthur Position 7 City Council seat, Freeman, a Port Arthur attorney, plans to bring his ideas to City Council to start a dialogue about how best to raise the capital cash,” Freeman said.

“I would hate to say my way, and am hedging my bets toward a bond, but there are other ways to gain revenue such as increasing property tax or possibly using more sales tax revenue,” Freeman said. “Bottom line is the streets need to be done, and I don’t think the general fund has enough money to get it done.”

Freeman would also work toward offering my activities for the city’s youth.

“Children are our future. We always need to have programs to keep them productive, whether UIL activities with schools, or just good social groups,” he said.

Freeman said he doesn’t want to waster public money to revitalize the city’s downtown area. What’s needed is industry — people who will invest their money into the city’s downtown.

Port Arthur, he said, is on track with some of the things they are doing downtown, but its time now to get private dollars invested.

While on the campaign trail the last couple of months, Freeman said he has heard the same resounding note from Port Arthur residents.

“The one thing that everybody talks about is the leaders of the city don’t work well together,” Freeman said. “Once we get over that hump of not working well together, then we can get something accomplished.”

Freeman is a native of Port Arthur and no relation to Derrick Freeman, the current Position 7 Councilman who is required to step down after announcing plans to run for mayor in the May 2016 election.

Freeman is a member of the Port Arthur Zoning Board of Adjustments; is a coach for the Pop Warner Junior Bees organization, and is a member of the Knights of Peter Claver Council No. 32.

Last May Freeman ran unsuccessfully for the Jefferson County Justice of the Peace Position against the incumbent Tom Gilliam.

He believes the City Council members should be made up of professionals, and that is experience and education will add to the current board.

Over the weekend leading up to Tuesday’s election day, Freeman said he won’t be doing an over abundance of campaigning. He’ll be doing what he loves.

“Tomorrow the Junior Bees Little League Football team is going to play. I am looking forward to it and hoping we win a championship,” Freeman said.

So far, he’s happy with his campaign.

“The campaign is good, we just put it out there and will let the voters decide,” he said.

 

E-mail: sherry.koonce@panews.com

Twitter: skooncePANews