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Candidate letter: Kathy Behringer

Editor’s note: During the next month, The Garner Citizen will feature a letter written by each Town Council candidate.

By Kathy Behringer

I don’t believe I have accomplished anything alone while I have been on the Town Council. We are an elected body, charged with making the best decisions possible for the good of the town and its citizens. I believe the best governing decisions are made when a variety of viewpoints are brought to the table.

Kathy Behringer

Each of the five Council members, as well as the mayor, brings a different aspect of professional expertise and life experience into the decision-making process, and I believe this combination serves Garner well.

Among my accomplishments as Council member include the resurfacing of Garner Road in 2007. After the project was removed from the Department of Transportation’s schedule, I worked with Deborah Ross to get it back on their priority list. The other Council members and I continue to work with Rep. Ross to move other Garner roads, such as New Rand Road and Vandora Springs Road, higher up on that list.

Other accomplishments include the installation of new sidewalks on Garner Road, and more recently the completion of the Aversboro Road/Vandora Springs Road sidewalk loop. Installing more sidewalks in Garner contributes to aesthetics and connectivity; it also offers our citizens an inexpensive, manageable way of getting exercise and improving their overall health.

The near completion of White Deer Park can be added to our list of accomplishments, and we have been able to install traffic calming devices in the Greenbrier Neighborhood.

During my term on the Council, we have faced a serious economic downturn. The town has been able to cut its overall budget for this fiscal year by approximately 13 percent without reducing its level of services to our citizens or employee benefits.

We are also developing a strategy to address capital improvement needs once the economy turns around.

If I were elected to serve on the Council again, my priorities would be:

Economic development

Economic development encompasses attracting both commercial development, retail development and retaining established businesses. Supporting small business is also crucial to economic development. Improving older neighborhoods, attracting new homeowners and improving our schools are also key drivers of economic development.

During my term on the Council, we have filled our vacant economic development director position and created and filled a neighborhood services manager’s position.

Schools

The education of our children is the foundation of our future. Continuing to press forward in our relationship with the Wake County School Board and lobbying for much needed changes in the present methods of achieving diversity are an absolute must. A child who is required to spend hours on a school bus every day is not receiving the best educational opportunities Wake County has to offer.

Transportation improvement

The completion of Timber Drive is another must. This project has been on the books for many years, and its completion is a necessity for connectivity and in relieving peak hour traffic congestion at the Hwy 50/Timber Drive intersection. Garner’s population continues to grow at a healthy rate, and transportation improvements must meet the demand.

I love Garner and its citizens. I will continue to work hard to make Garner “a great place to be.” I have been privileged to be part of a governing team and professional staff that work well together with the best interests of the town as our focus — without regard to personal agendas.

If I am re-elected, I pledge to work with our town officials, our staff, the Wake County School Board and other Wake County agencies, our legislative representatives, and, most of all, with the citizens of our wonderful community to ensure our town is not left behind or left out.

Kathy Behringer is a current Council member seeking re-election.

Information about the candidates, including details of the Citizen Symposium debate, can be found at garnercitizen.com/symposium.

Related articles:

• Candidate letter: Mona Parks
• Candidate letter: Amaka Flynn

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