Q & A’s
Why are you running for mayor?
Local government affects people's lives sometimes as much as government on a national level, so it's important to get it right. It's grass roots...where people live. Folks need to get involved in their communities and have a voice. Without involvement there's a disconnect between local government and the people that elected them. Citizens should be able to count on their elected officials to keep their campaign promises. Being involved and keeping my word are of utmost importance to me. I believe that honesty, transparency and communication are critical in public service.
In Weddington, I feel we have a disconnect between what the elected officials want and what residents want for the town. There's a division, as was evident by the Weddington Green and Roots Farm proposals, among others. This is very unfortunate.
Residents move to Weddington for the small town, rural feel. They don't want big commercial development. They want great schools, low taxes, improved roads with less traffic congestion, low crime rate and no high-density housing. They are looking for a nice safe place to raise their families! Weddington is a family destination. Not a hustle, bustle commercial destination.
I will work diligently to preserve our Weddington way of life. I have been fortunate to have traveled a lot nationally and internationally and have realized Weddington has some of the best folks anywhere, bar none. We are blessed with a community that is passionate about protecting our town, and we should be. Weddington is a special place to live and we should keep it that way! This is why I'm running for Mayor.
Do you have previous government experience?
I've been active as a citizen in the issues that affect Weddington and its residents, although I’ve not held elected office before. I'm not a career politician and I feel that this brings value and fresh ideas to our town.
As VP of an HOA and involved in many business dealings, I’ve learned to achieve results through compromise and negotiation. I’ve worked for INSP television networks in Indian Land/Charlotte for over 30 years and have attended Central Church in Charlotte since 1993 where I serve as a volunteer video director. I would humbly say I have a track record of success and perseverance, which is what Weddington needs.
I studied at Belmont University in Nashville TN majoring in business and minoring in music. I've been blessed to have a career in broadcast television for 40 plus years, working for and on special projects with INSP, CBS, NBC, ESPN, etc. With my abilities and leadership, I've worked on many national and international shows including the Olympics (where I received an Emmy for the Athens games and was nominated for another). With INSP, I've worked on shows airing in over 150 countries and have entertained job offers from Paramount, HBO and MGM Studios.
With my experience and leadership in communications and having lived in Weddington for 24 years, since 1999, I feel I know what residents want and can take on the responsibilities of Mayor and to help guide responsibly a vision for the future of our town. I'm confident I can lead the way in providing and restoring the communication and trust that has been recently lost. It's imperative that people communicate, and that government does their part in communicating with and listening to the great folks of Weddington.
What changes would I like to see in Weddington in the future?
I would like to maintain and protect Weddington as a family destination. As mentioned earlier, our residents are passionate about protecting the town from commercial growth, keeping taxes low, supporting our great schools, keeping crime down and working on traffic congestion. Please help me keep Weddington a beautiful and safe place to raise our families.
