Augusta Commission District 7 member Tommy Boyles launched his campaign for mayor Tuesday, promising to bring leadership, trust and political stability back to the city.

Under a blistering sun at the Georgia Golf Hall of Fame, Mr. Boyles spoke of Augusta's past and how progressive Augustans have always stepped forward at the right time to bring institutions and industry to the city.

"As the railroad expanded to Atlanta, Augusta became for a short time the capital of Georgia," he said. "As times changed, as times became harder, as jobs were leaving, a dynamic group of forward-thinking Augustans dreamed and built the Augusta Canal."

After 1845, Augusta flourished again as cotton mills were built along the canal banks, he said. Later, leaders worked for Camp Hancock, Daniel Field, Bush Field, Camp Gordon and later Fort Gordon, the expansion of the veterans hospitals, and the "bomb plant," now known as Savannah River Site.

"Forward-thinking Augustans worked to expand the Medical College of Georgia, the greatest teaching hospital in the world; University Hospital; Doctors and St. Joseph hospitals; and the diverse jobs that came along with the growth," he said.

Private Paine College grew, as did Augusta Technical College and Augusta College, now Augusta State University, Mr. Boyles said.

"So how did we get into this inferiority complex that we're in today?" he asked. He said it started with the decline of cities during the 1970s and '80s with middle-class flight to suburban counties and the erosion of the population and tax base.

Other cities have experienced a resurgence. Augusta tried consolidation - "a great plan'' - that hasn't worked, he said.

"It's failing because of a lack of political stability, a lack of clear vision and the implementation of that vision and lack of leadership, a lack of trust, and that will explain our stagnant population and our two years of flatness in the tax digest," he said.

Mr. Boyles said it's time to chart a new course for Augusta with him at the helm.

For starters, he has proposed a four- to five-year special purpose local option sales tax package that would bring in about $155 million. But first, he wants city officials to give a full accounting of other sales tax money.

"People think we're holding $115 million (to) $120 million in accounts that's unaccounted for," he said. "That's not true. That money is there, and it's all committed."

Mr. Boyles said that as mayor, he would never say he needs a vote or a veto. He would work with the commissioners in small groups and work to build trust among them.

Mr. Boyles will retain his seat on the commission until he qualifies for mayor in September.

Reach Sylvia Cooper at (706) 823-3228 or sylvia.cooper@augustachronicle.com.