I want to say thank you to all those who voted for me and that helped with my campaign, especially my husband of 46 years. I also want to say thank you to all who encouraged me in this endeavor, those who ran with me and those who worked behind the scenes.
My Experience
I have been a resident of the Town of Elizabeth for over 28 years. I plan to retire here. I care about our Town and its future. I attend most Elizabeth Board of Trustees and Elizabeth Planning Commission meetings.
I served for 8 years on the Board of Trustees (BOT), with 4 years as Mayor Pro Tem. I took my position seriously and always came prepared; only missing one meeting during my tenure. I supported and volunteered at many of the events sponsored by the Town or other organizations. I believe the Board needs a strong, visible leader and that is what I will be.
Changes I Would Like to Implement:
I want to encourage more participation
... by the citizens in our Town and the county by having workshops with/for the public to voice their concerns, ideas, etc. and have open dialogue with the Board of Trustees. These should be scheduled regularly (at least quarterly, but more often if possible) so that the dialog can continue to influence the priorities and direction of the decisions being made by the Board.
I want to encourage more cooperation
... between various groups and joint workshops for the public to attend. This would build better relationships with our partners in government, business and other service providers to our citizens. To help facilitate this I would like to have each Board member be a liaison to one or more partners, such as the County, the School Board, the Chamber of Commerce, etc. and then report back to the rest of the Board during Board reports.
I want to encourage more dialog
... at Board meetings from each Board member. Too often, with the current Board, they vote on an ordinance, annexation, zoning change, resolution, etc. with no information to the public as to why they voted the way they did. This needs to stop. I will lead by example, bringing both my questions and the reasons for my vote to the meeting. I will clearly state them for the public to hear.
I would like to schedule a Board retreat
... so the members get to know each other and find common ground with one another. I want to learn what’s important to each of them for the future of our town. From that, I would have the Board make a list of priorities to discuss in public meetings, so citizen input could be gathered. This would ensure our Town has the right balance and focus. I want everyone to feel that they have a seat at the table, and that their voices are heard. The Board would regularly review the list of priorities to make sure progress is being made in building common ground with both the Board members and the citizens of our community.
My Platform
Growth
The registered voters of Elizabeth spoke clearly on the initiative to overturn the zoning on Elizabeth West; that they don’t want “high density growth”. I am not opposed to all growth, but based on citizen input it needs to be “Smart Growth.” The current Board of Trustees seems to have already forgotten what the voters said through their vote on Elizabeth West. In just the last two months there were some proposed zoning changes that have been tabled for now that would have changed the residential densities of the old Town section drastically. The Board through postponing a definitive yes or no on the zoning changes have left it open to come before the Board again at a later date when the public isn’t paying as much attention. It appears that this Board (and whomever it was that proposed the zoning changes) remains tone-deaf to those in the greater Elizabeth Area that don’t want “high density growth”. If you elect me Mayor, you will not get the same tone-deaf result.
Transparency
So, who really is running this Town? Is it the Administrator and the staff? Or is it the current Board? While attending meetings I have noticed that most of the questions come from residents in attendance rather than the Board. It appears that this Board has already made up their minds before the meeting has started. It appears there is no transparency and decisions are being made outside of public meetings. This must be changed. I will lead by example and bring my questions to the public meetings.
Fiscal Responsibility
I am an accountant and understand the financial statements, audit, and budget of the Town. I am also fiscally conservative with taxpayer money. I continue to monitor and ask questions about Town revenues and expenditures. I have concerns about the finances under this Board and Administrator. They have approved some large expenditures that were not budgeted for in the 2024 budget. They have done this without having input from the citizens. These expenditures are not for emergency repairs, but for capital expenditures. Again, this needs to be changed and put in the proper order. We must give the citizens an opportunity to have a voice before the Board spends Town money on non-emergency expenditures. A clear list of priorities for the Board, in the next year, needs to allow for citizen input. This must take place long before the budget for the next year is brought forward for public hearing. I will work to make that happen if elected Mayor.
Equal Treatment
I ask questions and voice my opinions about what is going on in the Town. My questions don’t get answered. I am not the only resident of the Town that is treated like this by the Town Administrator and Board. This also needs to be changed. I will make this priority #1- that all residents are treated equally and deserve to have their questions answered.
If you elect me as your Mayor, I will do all I can to bring change to the way the Board and staff operates. Stop the Madness!
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