Editor's Note: The content included below was submitted by each candidate to Publisher Bill Bowman, and has only been edited by the production staff for spelling and punctuation.
Publisher's Note: These views are the candidates and their's alone and do not reflect the opinions of our newspaper. Up & Coming Weekly is not endorsing these candidates. These are views from citizens who want to contribute their time and talents to the community.

Delacruz I am Efrain "Freddie" de la Cruz, a retired Army Lieutenant Colonel and Mayoral Candidate for Fayetteville. This is my assessment of the crime and law enforcement situation in our "Can Do" city. First, you need to know that I served over thirty-two years in the U.S. Army and have more than twenty-eight years of experience as a military police officer. Five years of that was spent in an active combat zone, an experience that qualifies me to understand why Fayetteville is struggling with rising homicide and crime rates and how poor leadership within the Fayetteville Police Department is festering and fostering discontent, low morale and subsequently, a scandalous deficit of quality law enforcement officers.

I am a battle-tested proven leader that understands what needs to be done to curtail crime and keep our citizens safe. The crime statistics speak for themselves: Record-setting murder rate in 2021, with the first couple weeks of 2022 out to surpass that. Fayetteville does not need to be the murder capital of North Carolina. There are no easy solutions, but I strongly believe that petty crimes, property damage and murders can be significantly curtailed by allowing our Fayetteville police officers to do their job and enforce the law. When you let the people openly and without consequence break the law by rioting, looting and dangerously ignoring and violating local traffic laws, we create an environment of lawlessness. And, that is what we are currently witnessing in our city.

Recently, the Fayetteville Ethics Commission dismissed all the allegations of misconduct against Fayetteville Police Chief Gina Hawkins. Sad. She is the dark cloud hanging over the entire Fayetteville Police Department. Public safety is the mainstay of my campaign to run for mayor of Fayetteville. Of course, I believe everyone is innocent until proven guilty; however, the toxic environment in the police department and the dysfunctional makeup of our City Council all speak for themselves. As mayor, I would encourage Fayetteville citizens to replace the current leadership. As your mayor, I would strongly recommend that the City Manager fire Gina Hawkins and replace her with a chief of police with integrity and an impeccable record in law enforcement.

Regarding the recent senseless shooting of Jason Walker by off-duty Cumberland County deputy Lt. Jeffery Hash, my sympathies are with both families. Now, we must allow the official investigation of the incident to determine the case's fate. I'm confident the assigned agencies will do a thorough and fair investigation, and justice will be dispersed according to the laws of North Carolina. Justice and peace work hand and hand [sic]. I ask that everyone pray for unity, our community and the future of our great City of Fayetteville. Thank you, and I would appreciate your support and vote for Mayor of Fayetteville.

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