As citizens of the City of Winston-Salem, we share the concern of our fellow citizens about the current City Council's irresponsible spending, it's financial giveaways to international corporations, more giveaways to business owners unwilling to risk their own capital, and it's callous disregard to the voice of the people on these and other issues.

As Republican candidates for City Council, we enter into the following agreement with our fellow citizens:

If the people of Winston-Salem grant us the honor of serving them on the City Council with a Republican majority on November 3, 2009,

We, the members of the new majority will address the following eight issues within the first year of office:

The Baseball Stadium
The new majority will not allow additional taxpayer money to be used to build the baseball stadium. The stadium will be completed and maintained from private sources.

The Economy
The new majority will create a growth environment throughout the entire City by removing burdensome regulations that hinder growth and development and will reevaluate zoning laws.

Wasteful Spending and Taxes
The new majority will seek out and indentify wasteful, duplicative, and inappropriate spending in the city budget and remove items line by line. The Council will then return the money to the taxpayers in the form of a reduction in property taxes.

Freedom of Religious Expression
The new majority will allow ministers, who are invited to give the opening prayer at meetings, to be free to pray in the manner required by their faith.

Involuntary Annexation
The new majority will not annex any more of the surrounding area, unless the residents and property owners of that area decide by a vote that they want to become a part of the City.

Public Safety
The new majority will provide for all the needs of local law enforcement and ensure that all Winston-Salem residents benefit from its protection.

City Services
The new majority will make sure that individuals that were forcibly annexed receive the services that thy are due.

Term Limits
The new majority will establish term limits for the City Council members to help ensure that government leaders never become disconnected from the people of Winston-Salem.

This agreement shall be binding between the people of Winston-Salem and the below signees.

This the 12th day of October 2009.

John Taylor Hopkins, North Ward

Claudia Lynette Shivers, Northeast Ward

Peter Phillip Sorensen, Northwest Ward

Edward "Ted" Taylor Shipley, Southwest Ward

Witnessed by

Pat Smith Bryan

This 12th day of October 2009



Sponsored by the Forsyth County Republican Party