Elections 2013: Tara Richards

NAME: Tara M. Richards OCCUPATION: Civil Engineer Candidate for Post 5 on the Flowery Branch City Council 1) Why are you running for this office? I am running for a second term in office because I enjoy serving the community and being a part of the leadership team that makes Flowery Branch a great place to live, work, play and serve. The last few years we've enjoyed a quiet professionalism that has not gone unnoticed and it has been my pleasure to serve as part of a cohesive council who are interested in moving the City forward. 2) Is this first time you have run for political office? (If "no," please explain.) No, I ran successfully in 2009 for the Post 5 seat I hold now. 3) What qualifications for the office do you bring to the campaign? I am a licensed professional civil engineer and LEED accredited professional with over fourteen years of planning, engineering and project management experience. I have been employed locally at Rochester & Associates as a Senior Project Manager for the past 8 years and have strong relationships in both the residential and business communities. During my current term in office, I was chosen as a leader in the community to participate in the Leadership Hall County class of 2011 and the Regional Economic & Leadership Development class of 2010. I regularly represent Flowery Branch at reoccurring meetings including the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce monthly business meetings, South Hall Business Coalition, Network over Coffee, and Hall County Joint Municipal Association. I believe serving and setting a good example for the next generation is important to our community. I am currently volunteering as a mentor in the Hall County Schools Honors Mentorship program. I believe in service before self in the local community as well as to our great nation. I am a Civil Engineering Officer in the United States Air Force Reserves and currently serve at the rank of Major in the Command and Support Staff division of the 622nd CEF at Dobbins ARB, Ga. I deployed to Afghanistan in 2012 as the Joint Engineering Director over combined forces supporting Air Force Special Operations Command. 4) What do you see as the biggest concern/issue facing the city of Flowery Branch? And, please explain your answer. The biggest concern for Flowery Branch is keeping the current momentum going so that we can attract and retain quality business and development into our community. We have a very proactive and community centered council and staff right now who really care about the community first. A change in leadership will effectively reverse the momentum and energy the City is currently benefitting from. We have to continue to create a culture of being a business friendly community with a multitude of economic development tools that keep us competitive in today's market. 5) Are there any specific goals you would like to accomplish if you are elected? And, please explain your answer. My goals center on making Flowery branch a better place to live, work, play and serve. · I'd like to see us continue to use LOST (Local Option Sales Tax) revenues instead of raising the millage rate to increase funding to the existing Capital Improvements Plan. We have a series of storm water culverts that need to be upsized to handle larger storm events. We have a sewer system that can be expanded to make large parcels of undeveloped land more desirable. Our millage rate has not increased in the past 9 years and we were able to resurface much needed streets this year for the first time in Flowery Branch history. As time goes on, development will accelerate these needs as we have an increasing inventory of aging streets that need to be resurfaced, culverts that need to be replaced/installed, sidewalks constructed, traffic flow improved, sewer and water service expanded, etc. · I would like to see our Economic Development tools and marketing initiatives continue to evolve and expand. Additional tax relief to our residential citizens may come through expanding and developing our commercial and industrial base. This includes our current Opportunity Zone initiative based on our redevelopment and revitalization efforts. This would allow new or existing businesses that create two or more jobs in approved commercial and industrial areas to qualify for a Job Tax Credit of $3,500/per job. · I'd like to see the City be able to attract and retain quality staff across the board with a competitive compensation package. We have to reverse the high turnover trend, especially in leadership roles. We need to make the most of our tax dollars and attract and retain quality employees by offering competitive compensation packages that match other surrounding municipalities. · I want to make Flowery Branch a destination place for our local families and visitors. We are super excited about our downtown redevelopment plan as Main Street is nearly full for the first time in a decade and coming alive with events and new merchants. Our recent family fun events include concerts, bike races and criterions, festivals, fun runs, and car shows downtown. · I am also behind our involvement with the GHMPO (Gainesville-Hall Metropolitan Planning Organization) on a bicycle and pedestrian plan that would give us a dedicated lanes and a planned route through Flowery Branch as part of the greater Hall County bicycle and pedestrian plan. · And finally, I want to see Flowery Branch be an example to the next generation as a community where we serve. Without those who serve others first, be it in the military, local government, education, medical services, police/fire protection, etc., we could not afford the high quality of life and sense of pride in our community that is abundant in Flowery Branch. We all have part in being responsible and participatory citizens.