Ada mayor to seek second term

ADA, Feb 17, 2013 (Ada Evening News - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- When Greg McCortney decided to run for the Ada City Council in 2011, he thought the city needed to become more responsive to citizens and friendlier to local businesses.

McCortney said Thursday that his first twoyear term was a crash course in how local government works, and he would like to put that experience to use if he wins a second term.

"I really feel like I've learned a whole lot in the past two years," he said. "The next two years, I think I could be a lot more effective than I was in the first two." McCortney holds the at-large seat on the council and is currently serving as mayor. He recently decided to seek a second term in office.

McCortney is running against newcomer Don Rice in the March 5 primary election. The city will not have a general election this year, so the winner of the primary election will capture the at-large seat on the council.

Business background Family In-Home Care, both in Ada. He served as chairman of the Ada Area Chamber of Commerce Board in 2010 and was first elected to the city council in 2011.

He said the city has made progress several important projects over the past two years, and he wants to see them through to completion.

"A lot of work, a lot of homework has been done on where's the best spot for a fire station, where's the best spot for a police station, how do you best spend that money," he said. "We're coming to that decision point, and I feel like we've put so much time and energy that I want to push it past the goal line." McCortney was referring to the Penny for Our City initiative, which is funded by a onecent sales tax. Tax proceeds are earmarked for six capital improvement projects, including a new fire station and a new police/911 station. Key issues McCortney said when he ran for the council seat two years ago, he wanted to improve communications between city officials and Ada residents.

"I felt like that ability to communicate either way, it wasn't working," he said. "And that was the biggest thing that motivated me to run, was just being able to try to fix that and try to get the sides to be able to talk and listen." He said city officials are doing a better job of communicating with Ada residents, and they are working on making the city friendlier to businesses.

But McCortney said he would like to focus on other, equally important issues if he wins a second term. Those issues include: --Upgrading the city's water and wastewater systems and making sure the city has enough water to meet future demand.

McCortney said officials have the information they need to move forward on issues involving the city's water supply.

"We've been talking about water for 15 years," he said. "I think in the next couple of years, we're actually going to make decisions and we're going to set the course for the next 20 years." --Continuing progress on the Penny for Our City projects.

--Streamlining the city's daily operations.

___ (c)2013 the Ada Evening News (Ada, Okla.) Visit the Ada Evening News (Ada, Okla.) at theadanews.com Distributed by MCT Information Services

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