Interview with Rickey N. Oglesby, Jr., City of Smyrna Ward 7 Candidate

Written by: Chris Z

In the upcoming City of Smyrna races, only one candidate qualified to run for the Ward 7 seat, Rickey Oglesby, Jr.

After moving outside the Ward 7 boundaries, former Councilman Lewis Wheaton resigned from this seat in the spring. Kathy Young was appointed by the Mayor and Council to complete Wheaton’s term following his resignation. Young has elected not to run for the seat she currently holds.  

According to his campaign website, Oglesby has lived in Smyrna for the past twelve years. Married with three children, one in college and two at Nickajack, Oglesby is an Assistant Vice President and Fiduciary Officer at a financial institution. His volunteer activities include coaching with the Smyrna Elite Track team and officiating football games. You can read more about Mr. Oglesby’s background here.

Mr. Oglesby was kind enough to share more about his background, interests, and issues facing Ward 7 and the City of Smyrna. 

What inspired you to run for office as the Ward 7 representative?

I’ve always had a passion for serving the community I live in. My service started in the private sector. I believe an organic transition has occurred as I move into the public sector of service. Lastly, I believe that our city leaders should mirror the beautiful diversity of Smyrna. 

Were you surprised when you learned that you were the only candidate to qualify for the Ward 7 race?

Yes. That was very surprising! I encourage everyone to get involved in local government in some capacity.

How did you feel?

I must admit I was looking forward to a healthy debate. I have decided to continue to operate as if I have a qualified opponent.  My days have been filled with one-on-ones with Ward 7 citizens and scheduled meet and greets with neighborhoods within Ward 7. 

If you would like to schedule a meet and greet or maybe just a one-on-one please email me at Rickey4smyrna@outlook.com or visit my website Rickey4smryna.com.

According to your biography, you have two children in Nickajack Elementary and are a strong supporter of public schools. How can the Smyrna City Council better support public education in Smyrna?

Yes I do! I have a 5th grader and 2nd grader currently in the DLI program at Nickajack. My wife and I are products of public schools.  Some of the public schools we attended were underfunded or not funded at all, but that didn’t stop us from excelling. I truly believe that our schools, be it public or private, will meet the needs of the students with involved parents and neighbors. 

The current council members believe in Smyrna schools, which is encouraging. I plan on asking local school leadership and teachers what we can do as a city to improve the overall experience. I believe our wonderful teachers and principals know what would make the overall experience better. I will be a vocal advocate from the city. 

What would you like to see happen? 

I would like to see the city improve the after school experience for our students. I believe we can make an immediate impact for our families by finding creative ways to serve our families after school hours. I recognize the importance of technology and social media, but I also believe that human interactions are still important for the development of our youth. As a child I loved to play outside and I would like for our children to have that experience. 

Lastly, our schools have a lot of unused outdoor space. I believe the city has an opportunity to provide better fields and tracks for our elementary and middle school students to utilize for after school and summer programs. We have a lot of young track/field, football, lacrosse, and soccer talent in Smyrna! I would like to make it easier for our students to develop these skills.

What are some of the issues and concerns that you hear about most from your fellow Ward 7 residents?

Some of the recent concerns have been vehicles speeding through residential neighborhoods, general traffic in Ward 7, and lack of active senior living.  We have residents of Smyrna that have lived here for over 30+ years.  They would love to continue to live in Smyrna as empty nesters, but finding affordable housing for seniors has not been easy.  I will be an advocate for making sure our seniors can continue to call Smyrna home, specifically, Ward 7. 

As a child growing up in South Carolina, some of my best conversations and learning experiences came from the elders in the community.  I want that for the children of Ward 7 also.

Smyrna has seen a lot of growth recently, especially in Ward 7 and on Riverview Rd. What are your thoughts on this growth?

The Riverview Rd. growth is absolutely beautiful.  I encourage everyone to visit the docking area. Remember to stop in and grab a coffee at Chattahoochee Coffee Company or a cold brew from Reformation Brewery. 

What will be your process for deciding planning and development matters that come before the Council?

Thoughtful. I will start with gathering information about the environmental impact and plans to mitigate. I believe making sure the current infrastructure can handle the development will be important. Local economic impact will be important.  How will it serve our Smyrna small business owners and residents will be important to me.  Growth is good.  Responsible growth is better.

Transportation is another issue often on the minds of residents. Some are worried about traffic. Others would like to see more public transit. Cobb County may soon vote on a new Mobility SPLOST for more transit. What are your thoughts on transportation?

The citizens of Smyrna should be able to enjoy our local businesses without dealing with traffic coming from our neighboring counties/cities. Having local transportation would mean less vehicles on the road, and safe travels home after an evening out enjoying Smyrna’s local small businesses.

A Smyrna trolley would be great for the city and bring additional character. This is a thought. I don’t know of any future plans with respect to transportation. 

Are there areas for improvement in Smyrna in transportation?

Yes.  As I mentioned, local city supported transportation. This would also help improve our carbon footprint.

One particular challenge for Ward 7 that one of your predecessors Lewis Wheaton mentioned was how Ward 7 can feel disconnected from Smyrna, both geographically and with City services. What are your thoughts?

Lewis is absolutely correct! Lewis and Kathy have been working on improving that relationship. I will continue to do so.

Is there a way to better connect or integrate Ward 7 into the fabric of the City?

Ward 7 is unique in that we are the only Ward with a river.  Not only a river, but a river that the residents of Smyrna and the metro area can enjoy.  I believe we should take advantage of the Riverview Rd area responsibly.  We are a bit of a food desert also.  Our restaurants and grocery stores should represent the melting pot that Ward 7 has become. I hope that the council and the mayor see the opportunity to use Ward 7 in this way. 

The Chattahoochee River Lands project is starting to take shape and would pass through Ward 7. Do you have any thoughts about the City of Smyrna’s involvement or how the project should look as it passes through Ward 7? 

This is exciting, as it will first improve the Riverview Rd. area.  Our residents will be able to enjoy the nature and beauty that surrounds the River. The city currently has an outdoor theater along the river that has been used for local events for our children. I will continue to shine a light on the outdoor space and host events for our residents. As the Chattahoochee River Lands Project takes shape in Ward 7, it will be imperative for the city to find ways to keep the area clean and safe.  

As mentioned before, I believe the Riverview area will be a place where Smyrna residents can come and enjoy the beauty of the river, a nice meal, a drink, or coffee.  Ward 7 will no longer be disconnected from the City of Smyrna. Ward 7 will become a destination. A destination for a nice walk along the river, fishing, boating, canoeing, biking, dining, and live outdoor entertainment.

Are there any other issues you would like to see the City Council address that I have not mentioned?

Not so much as an issue, but a point of emphasis.  As Smyrna continues to grow, I want to be sure that we are making sure our civil servants have the tools they need to be successful.  

We have the best police department, fire department, and city employees in the Metro area.  I want to be sure we give them what they need to continue to perform at a high level.

With your background in business and finance, how can the City of Smyrna better support and encourage our local businesses?

Businesses continue to open in our city. I would say that the city has done a good job promoting the benefits of choosing Smyrna for your next venture. Local small businesses can sometimes encounter cashflow challenges and as a city we want our small businesses to succeed. 

I think this is a place where we can probably have the biggest impact locally, especially for our start-ups.  Also, we should continue Food Truck Tuesdays.  Many brick and mortar stores start from the back of a food truck!

I saw in your biography that you like to officiate football. Are there any skills from being an official that you think will translate to serving on the Council? 

Absolutely.  As a football official it’s important to be objective, impartial, and to slow down with the goal of gathering all pertinent information before making decisions that could impact others. 

Any coaching skills that will help with being on the Council? 

Yep! When coaching our local youth track stars for Smyrna Elite Track Club it’s important to keep a positive attitude.  Everyone has a different skill set. 

It’s up to the coaches, or in this case, the City Council to discover the different skill sets of its members and use it for the betterment of the city.