Title: Councilwoman

Municipality: Gastonia

Position Interested In: At Large - Elected Official

Position Interested In: District Representative, District #11

Q&A's:

Tell us why you would like to serve in a leadership position at the League. In particular, specify goals you would like to accomplish as an officer or board member and indicate how, if attained, they will help to achieve Vision 2030 – the League’s future vision of how cities and towns will operate in 2030?

I would like to serve in a leadership position with the league because I want to be a part of the solution to the issues facing our communities and state. I would love the opportunity to collaborate with other leaders and come up with initiatives that assist the league in serving all communities and the opportunity to make our state more vibrant, inclusive, and prosperous. I believe the growth in Gaston County and Gastonia, due to our proximity to Charlotte, is bringing both opportunities and challenges and that it would be beneficial to have an elected official from the county seat and largest city in Gaston County in a leadership position at the League.

I am a huge proponent of more local control and would advocate for legislation and policies giving more authority to municipalities to manage their local revenues having greater control over taxation as well as more control over services and governance. I would support initiatives giving local governments the flexibility to address their own community needs and challenges since each community is different and the local leaders are more in tune with those unique challenges and more accessible to those they represent. I do have relationships with our delegation and others in the state and federal legislation and would ensure municipal concerns and priorities are presented to them. I would advocate for more transparency and open government practices and platforms that would improve public access to information. I would focus on highlighting successful projects and quality services to demonstrate the importance and value of local government. I would be open to looking into the potential use of some type of performance assessment to evaluate and communicate the effectiveness of community services. I would work to advance technology by advocating for resources, grants, and funding that would help cities adopt smart technologies that would improve services and would support training for technology literacy. I would encourage partnerships and collaboration between our municipalities but also with the county, non-profits and the private sector as it is necessary to facilitate change and address challenges. I would support projects that would bring communities together to work on issues. Gastonia has already been a key player in some of those types of partnerships. I would work to encourage policies that recognize the interconnectedness of urban and rural areas ensuring that our growth is smart growth that it will benefit all of the community and I would promote the exchange of concerns and ideas between leaders in both urban and rural communities. I would support policies and programs that address the needs of all those living in our communities as they become more diverse and would help develop a workforce that is both competent and reflective of the changing demographics of the community where possible. I would work to enhance the service of the League to its members recognizing each municipality has unique challenges and needs and encourage the provision of resources and facilitating the exchange of ideas. I would advocate for municipal friendly policies and collaborate with others to increase our voice on issues, I would offer my input on legislative policy positions. I would support programs that cultivate the next generation of municipal leaders and support training to equip current leaders with information and skills to face future challenges. I would work to ensure that the League operates efficiently and is aligned with its strategic goals while always looking for ways to improve through new and innovative approaches. I would work to shape policy direction and priorities, build support for Vision 2023 initiatives, and monitor the effectiveness of the League's work and its direction. I believe I could use my leadership, experience, skills, and network to play a significant role in moving us toward a path that benefits communities across North Carolina.

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Tell us about your experience as a municipal official. You may want to include information on your service on the municipal governing body, other related boards and special areas of interest?

I have served on the Gastonia City Council for over 7 years. I have served with two mayors and several different council members. I have served on 9 different council committees and chaired 6 of those. I also served on 2 citizens committees - one for the city and one for the county. I serve on several regional boards/organizations. I am a Hunt Policy Fellow and a member of the Carter Center's Network for Fair, Safe and Secure Elections. I was a part of a grassroots depolarization effort with Braver Angels where I was a national delegate, national convention co-chair, local organizer, and on several committees. My priorities are public safety, infrastructure, and economic development. My special areas of interest are arts, education, transportation, recreation, and revitalization. I want to bring our college graduates back to live and work in their hometown as I feel they have a vested interested in improving the place they grew up. We need residents with higher education and better paying jobs to attract businesses and amenities we desire and need as a larger city. I am working to find ways to better serve our senior population and special needs population. We have had much growth so planning/development is something I have an interest in as well as affordable housing and helping our unhoused population. I also want to work on workforce shortages. I have always enjoyed government and policy especially at the local level.

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Tell us about your educational background, professional experience, and/or community or civic activities?

After graduating from Gaston County Public Schools (Hunter Huss High School) I graduated from Gardner Webb University with a Bachelor of Science in Education. I taught school in both the public and private sector. I taught at co-ops and later served as a mentor. I also worked for the city's recreation department coordinating summer programming. I coached youth sports. I was involved in the the music ministry at two churches as the minister of music. I was a media specialist at a church. I worked for the County Board of Elections as a precinct judge prior to being an elected official. I served on a charter school board and a regional continuum of care board. I am the president of the board of directors for The Little Theater of Gastonia. I have music directed, acted, and worked front of the house and backstage as well. I was very involved with Gaston Dance Theater and volunteered there usually working backstage. I was also involved as a parent volunteer at Gaston School of the Arts, Dance Productions Gastonia, and First in Flight Gymnastics. Aside from church ministry, I have volunteered with other local non-profits such as Meals on Wheels, The Salvation Army, The Boys and Girls Club and Reading Soulmates. I am an advocate for foster care and adoption supporting Least of These and Village 127. I am also involved with our senior residents through our recreational programming and as a part of the Greater Gaston County Senior Games. I attend community events on a regular basis and have a love for community and for people.

Have You Participated in Any NCLM Events or Committees? 

• CityVision Annual Conference

• Town & State Dinner or Town Hall Days

• Legislative Goals Planning Events or Process

• Legislative Policy Committee

Please provide any other information you would like the Nominations Committee to consider.

I believe I would be a great fit for serving on the board of directors for many reasons. I feel I have a skill set that would be an asset to this position. I have organizational and time management skills which are always a positive. I am an analytic thinker that works to make informed decisions based on data and information and work to achieve efficiency and effectiveness. I understand budgets, and have worked with many throughout my career and service, and believe in fiscal accountability and responsibility. I am a strategic thinker who can set priorities and plan for both short term and long term outcomes. I have collaboration skills and can work well as part of a team listening and understanding others perspectives while adding my own in order to tackle issues and find solutions through problem solving. I can adapt and pivot when necessary. I am dedicated and committed which my work/volunteer history shows .My communication and advocacy skills are strong and I have been a proponent for community engagement. But what I feel I really bring to the table is experience. I have both life and professional experience that would be beneficial to this position. I began working in public service at a young age. Aside from church and non-profit volunteering, I was involved in the political arena and local government. I was learning about policymaking at a young age as well. I worked alongside my parents as they worked in all these areas. I didn't just tag along with them I was very hands on as I love to learn and I love to serve. I sit in the same seat on the council my Dad held for many years in the 1970's and again in the 1990's. I have used my managerial, leadership, problem-solving, and communication skills in my jobs and community service roles. I have experience serving on and leading many committees and boards that deal with the issues that are part of the Vision 2030 plan. I have experience reaching across the divide and bridging gaps and bringing people together. I have a network of people who also want to move our communities and state forward and a great relationship with our local policy makers and state delegation. I am a people person with a genuine heart for the people of this state. Public service is something I have always enjoyed and have a passion for - it's in my blood so to speak. And I always strive for excellence in all I do. I have helped organizations come back from the brink of closure, I have navigated Covid as a councilwoman, charter school board member, continuum of care board member, family advisory board chair distributing resources to non-profits, and president of a community theater. I have been through tough budgeting with major tax increases due to property revaluation and continue to work to find solutions to help our citizens. I was a major advocate and worked hard to change our public transportation system to be more efficient and equitable through micro transit. I have worked to turn around an unfortunate situation with the first owners of our baseball team and managers of our stadium. I have worked with the challenges of growth and voluntary annexation and changing demographics as our area becomes more urban. These are just a few examples of my experience. I believe my skills and experience would not only support the effective governance of the League but would also contribute to creating a problem-solving and forward thinking environment that aligns with the Vision 2030 strategies and goals. I do hope you will consider my proven leadership and experience in your decision making. It would be an honor to serve. Thank you so much for your service and for your time.