Qualifying On The Last Day At The 9Th Hour

COUNCILWOMAN RONNIE EDWARDS ANNOUNCES CANDIDACY FOR RE-ELECTION TO THE EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH METRO COUNCIL DISTRICT 5 SEAT

Baton Rouge – East Baton Rouge Parish Councilwoman Ronnie Edwards announced Friday she is running for re-election to a second term as Baton Rouge Metro Councilwoman representing District 5.

Edwards said, “I am looking forward to building on the major accomplishments of my first term of service." Among her accomplishments, she cites the increase of civic participation in District 5, as well as over $150M invested in new housing construction, $187M in dedicated street, bridge, sewer improvements and infrastructure repairs. In addition, Councilwoman Edwards points to improvement in blight removal, more workforce development and employment training opportunities for the community and a strong focus on public safety.

During her first term Councilwoman Edwards sponsored and passed a number of ordinances and resolutions that positively impact the quality of life for EBR Parish residents. They include: Amending Title 8 of building regulations to add Chapter 9 on Housing Discrimination; Ordinance 14937 to provide for improvements in Maintenance of Property for Unoccupied Structures; Ordinance 14972 to amend and strengthen Anti-Litter Regulations and Increase Civil Penalties; Resolution 48064 to establish and publish a Database of Information of various City-Parish Boards and Commissions to be used to appoint members. Edwards was also a co-sponsor of the Fair Share Policy to work in conjunction with the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise programs for state and federally funded projects to enhance and diversify economic development within the City Parish.

“I look forward to continuing to work with the community to pursue greater improvements in infrastructure and neighborhood revitalization, basic services and smart growth initiatives, economic and small business development. I desire my public service legacy to be one that is purposeful and promotes all of our citizens fairing well,” Edwards stated.

Councilwoman Edwards is currently Special Projects Manager at Urban Restoration Enhancement Corporation (UREC) Chairs the Finance and Executive Committee of the Council and has served as a member of the Capital Improvements Committee. She is a strong advocate for civic participation and has served on numerous nonprofit and public boards and commissions including: Greenwell Springs Airline Economic Development District and Lighthouse for the Blind. She was recently elected to the Democratic Party Parish Executive Committee and a three year term on the National Caucus and Center on Black Aged Property Management Boards.

A 1998 graduate of the Baton Rouge Area Chamber’s Leadership Greater Baton Rouge Program, Councilwoman Edwards was selected in 2010 by the Children’s Defense Fund as a “Beat the Odds” Champion for Children honoree. In 2011, she received both the State and Regional Public Defender Award from the LA Housing Council and the Regional Chapter of the National Association of Redevelopment Officials.

Edwards holds a B.S. in Business Management from the University of Phoenix, is a licensed realtor and certified apartment manager. Married 41 years, mother of two and grandmother of three.

To contact Councilwoman Ronnie Edwards, write to P. O. Box 73018, Baton Rouge, LA 70874.3018, call 225.356.2319 or email: RonnieEdwards05@gmail.com.  Visit our 2012 blog at:  http://www.ronnieedwards05.blogspot.com/ .