Since I made the decision to run for City Council, people have wanted to know why I think I am qualified to run for elected office. My thoughts follow:
I have lived a life of service. The majority of my adult life has been spent either in sales, as a waiter or operating a business in the service and hospitality industry. I believe that those activities have made me both proud and humble and have given me the instincts to effectively represent others well. I think the step from serving the public to public service will be shorter for me than most.
I have two big ears to listen with. I have the gumption to ask questions. I think and when I come to a conclusion, I act decisively.
I have been interested in government my whole life. My degree is in History with a minor in Political Science. I attended Governor's School in Political Science and many of my post-graduate political science classes were taken right here at UNC Asheville focusing on the importance of local government. As such, I believe that I have the education and fore-sight in many of the areas and issues that I will be facing as a member of City Council.
I have owned and operated a thriving business in downtown Asheville for over nine years. As such this makes me aware of many and sensitive to all of the issues and challenges facing downtown in particular and generally, the community at large.
I live in Beverly Hills and am sensitive to the concerns of established neighborhoods and share many of the same concerns. As such, I will be alive to balancing the growth of the area with the concerns of our established citizens.
The fact that I own my own business and have run it successfully demonstrates a number of skills that will be useful and necessary to fill the role of a councilperson. I establish budgets, assess performance, achieve goals by working through others, and recognize that my personal success is built on every other person's success that is associated with my business. I know how to make and keep promises which are the fundamental basis for any successful business enterprise, and should be the basis of any and all governmental relationships with its citizenry. I know how to plan, set priorities, and balance the legitimate interests of competing parties.
I volunteer extensively within this community and within my industry. I have served on the board on the Asheville Downtown Association as Issues Committee Co-Chair for over three years. I am a founding member and the first President of AIR (The Asheville Independent Restaurant Association) as well as a board member for MAC (the Merchants Action Co-Allition). I have supported Hospitality House (one of the areas premier local social relief agencies) for over ten years and formerly served on its board for six years. I co-chaired the Downtown Social Issues Taskforce subcommittee on Panhandling and helped author the "Spare Change for Real Change Program" designed to address the issue of panhandling in a constructive, effective and socially conscious way. I helped author and lobby for changes in our parking services policies that have taken that particular enterprise fund from showing a $400,000 loss in 1998 to a $1,000,000 surplus in 2004, not only helping the taxpayer in general but contributing to the strength and vitality of downtown specifically. I currently sit on the board of the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce. I believe that all of these activities demonstrate the concern, flexibility and scope of interests needed to represent the citizens of Ashville as a whole.
While I am not a lawyer, I am a trained paralegal and have had experience with dealing with legal issues in a practical way.
I am not a crusader. I approach situations and issues with my mind open. I look for new ideas, new information and new ways for solutions of problems.
