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Candidate letter: Amaka Flynn

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

These are critical times for the town of Garner. These times call for a strong leader.

Amaka Flynn

It is essential during these tough times that we are good stewards of every public dollar. During these times we cannot afford to miss out on important business opportunities because if we do, then families will work more, get less and pay more.

It is my vision to make government work for the people of Garner and to move Garner into the 21st century while preserving our small town values and atmosphere. It is imperative that we balance budgetary restraint with moving forward to remain economically competitive and appealing as a community.

We can do this by uniting as a community and focusing on economic development, addressing environment issues and ensuring public safety.

Economic development

Strategically marketing Garner will ensure that we retain our current businesses and attract new businesses and middle-class families, which will build our tax base. We can market Garner by inviting the business community and area real estate agents to community fairs and providing tours where participants are able to talk with locals.

Revitalizing and modernizing downtown and older neighborhoods is essential to building Garner’s economy. We need to preserve the historic downtown and make it accessible by incorporating sidewalks, sitting areas and road connections. Downtown Garner has the capacity to become a central meeting place for the community, which will attract businesses. We need to research other communities to determine lessons learned and best practices.

Our economic development success is also tied to the quality of our schools. We need to continue to advocate for our schools and ensure our children are able to compete globally. Quality education in Garner will attract families and businesses and guarantee social stability.

Environmental issues

The solid waste contract is one of the Garner’s largest service contracts, utilized most frequently by our residents. I will encourage price efficiency at the best quality and the monitoring of this contract and others.

I will also encourage the exploration of water conservation options. We need to move from a consumption-based society to a conservation-based one because it impacts our water and sewer allocation and the number of businesses and residents who move into Garner.

I will encourage the preservation of open space and the creation of greenways. I will promote partnerships and collaborations with other municipalities for profit and nonprofit business and explore state, federal and foundation grants to move Garner closer to realizing an aquatic and community center.

I will support innovative, creative and cultural programs through the Parks and Recreation Department and ensure those programs are offered at diverse times.

Public safety

I will work to ensure that the already low crime rate remains low in Garner by supporting the hiring of more police officers as our population grows.

As the town goes through the process of hiring a new police chief, the community has an opportunity to provide feedback on the critical skills required by a police chief. We need to be proactive in addressing gang and illegal activities.

Park and recreation programs can be used to create tutoring and mentoring programs for kids, helping keep kids safe and out of crime as well as increasing their school performance.

When I am elected, I intend to focus on these issues to build a stronger community. I am community-focused, fiscally responsible and progressive. I have demonstrated leadership experience through the various boards I have served on and through my role with the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services. I have over eight years of budget experience and 13 years of advocacy, collaboration and partnership experience.

To learn more about my issues, please visit amakaflynn.com. I need your prayers, support and votes Nov. 3.

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: Kathy Behringer

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