MARIETTA - James C. Dodd Jr. spent eight years on the Marietta City Council in the 1990s. He grew up in the city and returned home after a career in the U.S. Air Force that saw him flying around the world with then-Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. Now he is seeking to win back the Ward 5 seat held by the Rev. Anthony Coleman.

"When there's a problem and I'm notified, I try to solve the problem. That's what people know and remember me for," Dodd said.

One problem he believes he fixed previously was decreasing the drug trade in the Lyman Homes public-housing project, which has since been torn down. In 2001, Dodd was among council members who approved erecting barricades so traffic could only flow one way in and out of the project, though he lost his seat later that year.

"I have a fiduciary responsibility as a member of council to keep people safe," Dodd says. "The police were receiving 380-plus phone calls per month related to drugs from that area. After the barricades went up, the calls dropped to 130-something. That immediately lets you know there's been success."

The barricades were not the only controversial stance Dodd took in his previous terms.

"I can remember a question of whether we should widen Whitlock Avenue. I ask the city manager for some statistical data. How many hosues will we destroy in the process? How many old trees will we uproot? How many businesses will be impacted? I need this data to help me make a decision."

"But the information didn't come. I waited for months, and finally we're up to a vote. You had 3 for and 3 against. I abstained, and explained why. I didn't have the information I needed to make a decision," Dodd said.

In the voting booth on Nov. 3, Dodd plans to vote yes on the $25 million parks bond question.

"We need more parkland," he said. "If we fail to purchase the parks in November, it will impact us drastically in the future. We can buy land now cheaper than we can five years from now. And we can get work done more cheaply today because everybody wants the work."

Among the major issues facing Ward 5 constituents, Dodd said, is the lack of a swimming pool. The community pool on Lawrence Street has been closed for two summers because it needs about $400,000 in repairs.

"The only way it can be repaired is through a bond referendum," Dodd said. "But it's important we find activities our youth can be involved in. I would love to see us get some kids in the county's swim venue and for a team. We need to get these kids in something challenging so we have a brighter future to look forward to."

Dodd, who is a lifetime member of Liberty Hill Baptist Church, declined to say who he is supporting in the mayoral contest. That race and the Ward 5 contest each have three candidates, which could force one or both races into a runoff election.

He is the only candidate in the Ward 5 race to itemize contributions on the most recent disclosure reports. District Attorney Pat Head, for one, donated $500 to Dodd's campaign, though Dodd is also paying much of the tab himself.

As for creating a well-run city, citizen input is imperative, Dodd said, though "You will rarely make a decision that everybody's going to be happy with."

"I try to listen intently to people, and I have compassion. But you have to go with the masses. If you have 90 percent of the people over here, and 10 percent over there, I've got to do what's best for the majority."