What has driven you to run this Election?
I believe that Kure Beach is the best place to live in the world – and while it has definitely changed in the 58 years I have lived here, previous and current councils have managed these changes to keep it that way. I have lived in many communities during my life in the US Navy – Orlando and Tampa, FL, Charleston, SC, Raleigh and Greensboro, NC, Norfolk, VA, Saratoga Springs, NY, Groton, CT, and Newport, RI – and while each of them had many positive aspects – none compares to the quality of life that we enjoy in Kure Beach. I will continue to work diligently to ensure that the atmosphere and quality of life that I enjoyed growing up in our town– is available for our children and grand-children to enjoy in the future. To me, this means ensuring that the town continues to provide the level of service from the departments that we currently enjoy and plans ahead for large expenditures – be it sewer projects, fire trucks or water system upgrades. Additionally – the town council must closely monitor the State and Federal financial environment and work closely with New Hanover County and other municipalities on funding alternatives to beach nourishment and financing the Carolina Beach inlet dredging. The town must continue to monitor and respond to challenges as the occur – preparing for emergency response (Hurricanes, COVID) as well as monitoring and implementing changes when needed based on New Hanover County and Wilmington growth – parking, increasing visitor loads from population increases and expansions at the NC Aquarium, Fort Fisher Museum and Air Force Recreation area.
What specific skills do you bring to council should you be elected/ re-elected?
- I have served in the town as a volunteer firefighter for 26 years, as the Emergency Manager for 22 years, and as a Town Commissioner for 16 years (broken service due to recall to Active Duty for the US Navy 2007-2008).
- My professional training and experience as a working Electrical Engineer in Facilities projects for Corning Incorporated for 27 years, training and experience as a Navy Officer in the US submarine service/reserves and lifelong experience in the town’s infrastructure all combine to allow me to approach the town’s issues with detailed understanding of the current state of the town’s infrastructure, a detailed knowledge of how we got to where we are and an understanding of the current best practices.
- I am totally focused ensuring that our full time residents and property owners are the top priority when issues are being considered by the town. While the town has multiple stakeholders – full time residents/property owners, short term rental owners, business owners, visitors, employees, County/State/Federal regulators, day visitors – each with differing views on what the town council should do on issues before it – as I look at issues I am focused on the full time residents and how issues affect them.
Please share any social media page(s) or websites.
Not at this time – website to potentially launch in September
Do you have any upcoming events promoting your run for office?
None planned at this time – I will participate in any candidate sessions that are put on by the any organization if my work schedule allows.
Any parting words for residents as we look forward to electing the next council?
- The town of Kure Beach is an excellent place to live and this is shows up in the increased property values, citizen feedback and visitor increases in the last decade. We are lucky to have excellent candidates interested in serving on the council with 4 people seeking the commissioner seats. I have been fortunate to work with each of the other candidates on committees or council in the past 4 years and am glad that we have a strong group willing to do the work. Town Council in Kure Beach is a challenging and rewarding act of service for our community and I would be honored to be re-elected to serve our community in the role of Commissioner.