Meet the Candidates: Ziad Salameh

Smyrna’s general election will be held Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2011 and a record 19 candidates are on the ballot. In their words, candidates will be introducing themselves here at Patch. Today, we have Ward 7 city council candidate Ziad Salameh, who is running against Ron Fennel, Garry Osborne and Vic Yankouski. 

At Ziad Salameh’s website, http://salamehforsmyrna.com/, he states, “My message is simple. We need to learn from the past, plan for the present, protect the future.’’

Salameh moved to Smyrna in 1988 as a transfer student from the American University of Beirut to Georgia Tech, where he graduated with a master’s degree in Electrical Engineering.

On New Year’s eve 1994, he married Rhea Marie Rogari at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. The couple has two children, Joey and Nadia. Joey is in the International Baccalaureate program at Campbell High, and Nadia in the Advanced Content program at Campbell Middle. 

Salameh has been active in his church, the Smyrna Education Task Force, Smyrna Little League, school PTA, Upward Sports and as an Adopt-A-Mile program leader for Keep Smyrna Beautiful.

On his site, he states his platform is to promote a positive Smyrna, “The citizens of Ward 7 have always brought forth great enthusiasm. As your representative, I pledge to promote the results and foster this attitude.’’

Concerning promoting schools and parent involvement, Salameh states, “Schools and education are one of the most important pieces of society. Just as I have been daily involved with my kids’ schools, I will put our achievements in the forefront for the whole nation to appreciate.’’

Discussing further his concept of promotion, “I will promote town-hall meetings and focus groups. They are some of the very effective techniques to share and discuss upcoming city issues and proposals. 

“City planning and community development are the core duties of city officials. My open-door policy will allow anyone at anytime to receive information as those ideas are being discussed. The community relations division has done an outstanding job. As your councilman, I plan to complement the image of this division to promote the people of Smyrna, their communities, and their activities.’’

He also promises to provide leadership and sound fiscal decisions.

“As your councilman, I will always lead by example, showing the upcoming generations how leadership is earned and not given, how leadership is an on-going task, and how leadership builds healthy communities.

“I pledge my undivided attention to each and every resident of the city of Smyrna in general and of Ward 7 in particular.

This attention will not fade as the years go by, then gain importance during election cycle.

“Good decisions happen in the present. They will definitely affect the future. Our kids will bear the burden of today’s events. I pledge to influence all involved parties - officials, staff, and residents - to invest adequate time in the planning phase prior to final determination.  

“You get to make a living; you give to make a life. I believe a little assistance form the council and the mayor’s office is always a great catalyst to keep moving forward. As a councilman, I pledge my unconditional assistance for the purpose of a “Positive Smyrna.”