Town of Washington Park

What is your current job title?

Mayor, Town of Washington Park; Retired Director, NC Department of Commerce, Division of Community Assistance

What is your highest level of education?

BA in Political Science/Fine Arts, Rockford College

MA in City and Regional Planning, New York University

If elected or re-elected, what will be your top priority? Why?

Because Washington Park is a small, 98-year-old waterfront town of just 450 residents and two commercial properties, residents say they are happy with the town as it is. Therefore, Job One for me is to reinforce the current community character.

This means maintaining the residential attributes of Washington Park as a bedroom community for about 215 families in an almost completely built-out development plat. The low tax rate is sufficient to provide Park residents a beautifully maintained streetscape, a tot-lot children’s playground, tennis-pickle ball courts, a unique minimally equipped waterfront park, twice weekly trash pick-up, a high level of basic services from our three-person work staff, and an accessible Town Board and Town Clerk.

Although Washington Park is one of the smallest of the State’s 550 municipalities, the Park complies with the same North Carolina statutes that govern all NC towns big and small. The Mayor, Town Board, and Town Clerk continue to be keenly aware of NC state statutes and follow them to the letter. If elected, adherence to those statutes will continue. The town is and will remain in a very sound fiscal condition; the town’s accountant and the reporting requirements of the NC Local Government Commission assure the mayor and board that town finances are and will remain in very good order. Sound financial management requires the Town Board and Town Clerk's ongoing attention in administering the town's half-million dollar annual budget. In short my primary goal as Mayor is to continue to keep Washington Park the same special community as it has been for almost a century. In a changing world that ain't easy!

If elected or re-elected, how will you involve your constituents in the process of making decisions?

As Mayor I will continue to 1) Listen to residents. 2) Continue to write a quarterly newsletter, the Town Crier, which reports on important issues that the Town Board is addressing. 3) Hold regular Town Board meetings on the same first Monday of every month. The town will continue to advertise meetings ahead of time in the Washington area newspaper and post a notice on the town's website. 4) Follow NC state statutes with open-to-the-public monthly Town Board meetings which welcome community input. 5) Post Town Board meeting minutes on the park website. 6) Distribute house-to-house flyers announcing important community issues and events such as the annual Town Picnic at the Pamlico River waterfront park. 7) Staff the Municipal Building - keeping it open for business four days a week. The municipal building is staffed by the town clerk, who can help residents and visitors with a surprising range of questions or requests.

Why should voters choose you for the position you are running for?

My year of service governing Washington Park provides me with a unique perspective on the issues, problems and opportunities the town currently has before it. In addition, my 30-year ‘day job’ was devoted to planning and managing counties and municipalities in North Carolina’s 20 northeastern counties. This involved a range of technical assistance regarding resources dealing with public administration, physical development, fiscal management, and inter-governmental relations between the state, federal and local entities.

As mayor I have worked hard and openly in the past. I plan to continue this practice. I have appreciated the community respect – demonstrated by my re-election every two years since 1976. If reelected this year, I will continue to work to keep Washington Park the municipal gem that it is well known for.

What three things about you do you most want voters to know?

1) I will work with the Town Board and town staff to maintain a high functioning team that delivers good services and outcomes in all the areas for which the Board is responsible. 2) Through the town’s budget process, I will conservatively support the allocation of resources to maintain and enhance the Park’s close-knit sense of community. 3) The state’s official song says that in North Carolina... "the weak grow strong, and the strong grow great." In Washington Park, all 450 of us can continue to make those words come true. I will help!

Is there anything else you wish to say?

That is enuff!

Office campaigning for:

Town Commissioner

What is your current job title?

Owner at KidKusion Inc.

What is your highest level of education?

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from NC State University

If elected or re-elected, what will be your top priority? Why?

To continue in my role as the commissioner responsible for streets and drainage. My technical experience, ability to solve problems and communicate well with our residents, makes me a good fit to handle the issues that arise in these areas.

If elected or re-elected, how will you involve your constituents in the process of making decisions?

It is crucial that I involve residents in the decision-making process that involves street maintenance and drainage. Many times, the solutions for problems in these areas has to balance individual property owners’ rights with the needs of the town as a whole.

Why should voters choose you for the position you are running for?

I have over 30 years of engineering and problem-solving experience that is valuable in solving the streets and drainage issues that arise in our area. But just as important as the technical experience is my ability to communicate well with people of all ages and backgrounds. If you cannot communicate your ideas and solutions well, the technical experience alone may not solve a problem.

What three things about you do you most want voters to know?

1. I am an experienced current Commissioner with a proven record of solving problems and providing sound advice to the other Commissioners. 2. All the guidance and advice given regarding issues that come before the board are done so in the best interest of our residents. 3. I will assist the Commissioners in making the best decisions that we can so that the residents get the most value from their tax dollars.

Is there anything else you wish to say?

No