Jim Leach is making his first run for Florence City Council.
Leach served for 30 years in the U.S. Army, including time in the Army National Guard, Army Reserve and active-duty Army. He is now retired from the military. Leach said his military career shaped his approach to leadership, particularly his emphasis on following through on projects and identifying the officials and agencies responsible for carrying them out.
Leach said several Florence residents encouraged him to run for council. His interest in city government predates his candidacy, and he has regularly attended council meetings.
“All in all, we need fresh ideas, we need to completely change who will represent the city and even put term limits in place so Florence can move forward into the modern world — rather than have the equivalent of a Homeowners Association take over the entire city,” Leach told LINK nky.
Infrastructure and traffic are among Leach’s primary concerns. He said Florence should place greater emphasis on street conditions, speeding and parking enforcement as traffic continues to increase. He has also called for additional regulations governing e-bikes, particularly their use by children.
Leach has been critical of Florence’s use of automated license plate readers and supported removing the cameras over privacy concerns. The city suspended its Flock Safety cameras in September and, as of early October, they remain deactivated while a joint committee reviews the technology.