What experience and skills do you bring to a position on the Woodcreek City Council?
I served as a member and then was elected Chairman of Woodcreek’s Infrastructure and Mobility Panel in 2024. I know the people and many processes of our city government. Before I retired from a long career in private enterprise in 2022, I held management and executive positions with technology companies such as Hewlett-Packard, Motorola, AMD, and Zebra, with an emphasis on mergers and acquisitions, marketing, competitive research, and strategic planning. Planning and development for the future is one of the most important functions a city needs to perform. I know how to engage constituents to understand their values and priorities, and I have the financial and data analysis skills to help secure our vision for a strong future.
As you see it, what are Woodcreek’s top priorities?
Our first priority is to serve our current and future citizens —both residents and businesses. We owe them safety, affordable and effective housing, infrastructure services and utilities, and social services to help them thrive in our community.
Across the long term, we need to address water security as the population of our area grows. Financially, we need to live within our means; the days of high-dollar grants are over, and communities see more competition as they pursue scarce governmental and private funds. We need to cultivate relationships with our home-town businesses, and we need to attract small businesses that will help us achieve our long term vision for the community without increasing the tax burden on homeowners. Woodcreek does not have a good history of regular preventative maintenance. As an example, our repaved roads are one of our most valuable assets; they should have been sealed over a year ago, and resealing should be performed every 3-4 years.
Politics in Woodcreek have been divisive for many years. What do you think of that situation and what can you do that will allow residents to find a more unified vision of the city’s direction?
I am discouraged to see blocs of three candidates replace individual campaigns across the past several cycles of elections. This all-ornothing approach makes our elections very partisan, even without the party labels. The city council should embrace diverse opinions and come to agreement on the best path forward, especially on contentious issues. I serve all our citizens and businesses, not just the ones who live in a certain neighborhood or fall into one demographic group. I will build our community toward a shared vision for the future with community spirit and volunteer involvement.
Over the last several years, Woodcreek had added new pocket parks and other similar projects. In terms of long-term development, would you support those kinds of initiatives, and if not, why? What would you support?
Yes, I would love to see more creative ways to build a sense of community, such as converting unbuildable lots to pocket parks for our residents. It doesn’t take much — a bench, a waste bin, a parking space, some discreet lighting and/or a water tap and dog bowl. A sculpture, a sign to let people know what plants can be seen, or a plaque to honor past leaders can all help to increase the community spirit and love for public spaces.
I support letting people engage with their neighbors and express themselves publicly with art, music, movement, and exercise. I support Little Free Libraries as a local way to share books and help build a passion for reading. I support creative solutions for public parking so residents can get together with friends and not block the roadways. I support micro-businesses run from homes that do not involve public access and parking requirements to help our residents increase their income and wealth.
The method of enforcing code violations in Woodcreek has changed multiple times over the years. What do you think is the appropriate way to handle this issue?
Our codes exist to help our citizens have healthy and desirable living spaces. When residents complain about other residents who do not follow the codes, it usually just takes a letter or visit from Sean Rawlings, our code compliance manager, to educate citizens about the deficiency and why the issue needs to be corrected.
Occasionally, the owner is absent or deceased, and it may take time to identify a responsible party while the property is in transition. Sometimes, the resident is physically or financially incapable of performing the necessary care; in these cases, the city should work with charities or social service providers to help the resident. And very rarely, a resident chooses not to comply, so as a last resort, the city has allocated funds for legal enforcement.
