Issues

PROTECT RESIDENTIAL, RURAL CHARACTER AND SMALL-TOWN CHARM - Support one-acre lots and maintain commercial where currently zoned.

OPPOSED TO MULTIPHASE PARK PROJECT - Stop recurring tax increases and unnecessary government growth.

RESTORE COMMUNICATION AND TRANSPARENCY TO RESIDENTS - Restart the monthly newsletter to keep residents and families informed and involved.

CREATE STRONGER PARTNERSHIPS TO FOSTER COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT - Strengthen relationships with law enforcement, schools, churches, and community groups.

Eliminate Wasteful Spending:

$295,000 was budgeted for a new town park, public restrooms, and an amphitheater. Plans include ideas for a new town building to hold meetings, and approval was given to hire an additional employee. Last year, residents' taxes increased 44%. Staying on this path will cause taxes to continue to rise and fuel a push for more commercial development to help ease these new financial burdens. I am not in favor of this project. I will eliminate unnecessary spending to reduce taxes and protect the future of our small town.
After our mayor renegotiated Weddington’s contract for trash service, our cost will increase 3% every year for the next 6 years. I will reintroduce competition for these services to keep each resident's cost down and ensure we are always receiving the best service. I will seek ways to allow residents more personalized options and control over the trash service they receive.
I will stop spending town money on consultants for unnecessary projects and studies. I will work with council and town employees to be sure that your tax dollars are stewarded well. We will operate with a high level of transparency to be sure residents are informed and wise decisions are being made.

Growth and Development:

I will preserve Weddington’s residential, rural character, by supporting single-family homes, built on one-acre minimum lots.
There has been a lack of accountability and proper oversight of development after it’s been approved. Our current leadership has attempted to fix this problem by creating new tree canopy ordinances to protect select “heritage trees”. I would expand on these ordinances to require developers to preserve more of the tree canopy and not only heritage trees. I will work to ensure there is proper oversight after approval to be sure projects are being followed as planned.
I will maintain commercial development in our current town center, where it is currently zoned.

Crime:

Below are the steps I will take as mayor to promote transparency and support the Sheriff’s Office, to help reduce crime in Weddington.

Our town newsletter will start being sent out again and will include crime data, trends, and prevention tips.
I will work with town hall to share important information regarding crime to our HOA leaders and each resident. I will work to restart the Public Safety Committee in Weddington.
I will work with the Sheriff’s Office to inquire if Weddington’s deputies can adjust patrol hours in order to have a greater presence during times crime is more likely to occur. Since breaking and entering crimes are noticeably worse, we could have deputies' shifts overlap during peak times when these crimes are most likely to occur. This would allow for a greater presence in our neighborhoods during these higher probability times until these numbers are back down.
I will partner with the Sheriff’s Office to explore opportunities to have Citizens Academy or similar educational classes taught from our town hall. Currently, these classes are taught in Monroe. Because we are on the other side of the county, I will see if we can have some of these classes taught here in town to make it easier for residents to attend. This will also allow us to help highlight and bring awareness to residents about these great classes the Sheriff’s Office offers.
I will partner with our school administrators and deputies in our schools to have them provide informational classes from town hall to help educate and equip parents and students about crimes and negative trends they have seen that are affecting our students. This would be a great help and much appreciated by our families in town.
Our town will partner with the Sheriff’s Office to create strategic plans to encourage greater law enforcement presence from deputies in our area. I will propose the idea to have a break room for deputies in our town hall, where any deputy can come to eat their meals and type reports day or night. We will ensure all zone patrol cars, as well as our town deputies, have access to this space. This is a simple way to encourage more deputies to drive through town. This will create a greater presence of patrol cars on our roads as they come and go from town hall. It is a benefit to the deputies by providing them a nice space to eat or work when needed, and also provides a benefit to our town as well.

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Community Initiatives and Improvements:

I will allow and encourage participation from all residents of Weddington, not just those endorsed by special interest groups and large donors in town.
Our town will honor Weddington's veterans through partnerships with organizations that support veterans in our area by allowing them space in town hall to host events.
We will care for seniors in our town and allow them to be connected and involved. We will open town hall for gatherings and offer a physical newsletter option to those who would prefer one upon request.
Ensure town events are scheduled at times that do not conflict with school activities to allow families and parents the opportunity to be more involved in town functions and gatherings. This will foster stronger community engagement and allow more residents the opportunity to be involved.
I care about the appearance and reputation of Weddington. I will work with staff to ensure our medians are well-maintained and kept clean so our town reflects the high standard we strive to achieve.