VALDOSTA — Vivian Miller-Cody is running for the District 1 seat of the Valdosta City Council.

A lifelong resident of Valdosta, Miller-Cody has lived in the First District since 1970.

Miller-Cody said she has targeted issues in her campaign, the first being to keep the area clean, particularly through an agreement between landlords and tenants to keep properties in proper order.

“We want to come up with some kind of plan that we can get the landlord to explain to the tenants that they need to keep the shrubberies cut, don’t put the cars in the backyard that are torn up, and get rid of the trash,” Miller-Cody said. “If we can get rid of the trash, we can beautify the area.”

Miller-Cody argued the value of surrounding homes have been damaged by the poor upkeep of other homes.

“If we can come up with a plan to teach our tenants how to keep this area clean, it will make the area back to what it used to be in the ’70s,” Miller-Cody said.

Miller-Cody also championed the idea of churches coming to neighborhoods to help children in an after-school environment.

“It’s a village,” Miller-Cody said. “It’s a village that will make this area come back like it used to be. If we can get more churches to get involved with after-school programs in the area, it would help children with their math and reading abilities.”

Miller-Cody argued children in the district have trouble with math and reading, and a church coming to a place like Ora Lee West, for example, once a week would help bring grades up.

Miller-Cody’s campaign kick-off is scheduled for July 25 at Vallotton Park on the corner of Woodlawn and Troup from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.