By Mindy Ragan Wood
Staff Writer
The president of the Piedmont Roundup Club hopes to lasso the mayor’s seat in the spring elections.
Kurt Mayabb owns Rock n’ M Farms and still works for his father’s plumbing business when he isn’t running the roundup club or helping with the Piedmont Service Center.
He faces Acting Mayor Bobby Williamson and former Mayor John Bickerstaff.
Mayabb, a lifelong resident who graduated from Piedmont High School in 2000, would be the youngest member on the city council if elected.
“Some people are saying we need young blood,” Mayabb said, “but I don’t think that’s quite true as I’m seeing it. I think diversity is something to me that when you change it up a little bit, you get new ideas and that’s where I’m at. My opponents have both had their chance and I’m just asking the city to give me my chance.”
Mayabb said he is hearing from citizens, many of whom have grievances against the city.
“They’re upset about the (road) fee on the water bill,” he said. “They weren’t upset at first, but you don’t see anything being done so, citizens feel like they’re being pushed to the wayside. If you take $10 from me and it’s to feed my cows, you should be able to see $10 in feed for your cows.”
Money is something Mayabb is paying attention to. He wants to know how much money from the city’s carryover can be diverted to roads. The candidate wonders if adding to the city’s public works staff could also help the city maintain the roads in a more efficient and timely manner.
“We have a good public works department,” he said, “but they’re pulled every different direction.”
Mayabb said he plans to work for the citizens, even if it means grabbing a shovel.
“I made a comment this morning that I will make it happen. If I’m elected as mayor, you’ll see me filling in potholes if it comes to that. I don’t know how far the city’s insurance would let me go with that, but if it’s possible and that’s what’s got to be done, I’m going to do it. I’m concerned about the water, anything underground. We’ve got to be paying attention to that.”
The tasks of serving in city government will be new to the candidate and he admitted there is a lot to learn. He has not served on any city committee positions.
“I’ve been with my dad full time since 2000 so I understand the business part of it,” Mayabb said. “But when you’re walking through the city, it’s something to learn about.”
The candidate hopes to see the city strike a sustainable plan to move forward.
“I want to encourage discussions at the city level to maintain the existing community while working toward development,” he said. “There needs to be balance for the current needs.”
