#LocalElectionsMatter: Lexington City Council Ward 4 Candidates
Sidney Briggs, our first intern at Davidson Local, approached us a couple of months ago with an idea. As a soon to be high school graduate who will be voting for the first time this fall, being an informed voter is of utmost importance to Sidney. She also believes her fellow citizens should have access to information that will assist them in the voting booth.
For over a month, Sidney has been calling candidates running for Lexington City Council, Mayor of Lexington, Lexington City Schools Board of Education and Davidson County Commissioners to collect their email addresses. She has begun the process of submitting questions to them in an effort to share their platform.
This week, we will publish answers from the council and mayoral candidates. Answers are verbatim.
We appreciate Sidney’s commitment to her fellow residents.
-Kassaundra Shanette
1. What are your plans to combat the Covid-19 pandemic and recover from the damage it has already caused?
John Burke: The impacts of the COVID 19 pandemic have been far reaching and some not yet realized. Our community is dealing with the loss of loved ones, long term health issues, emotional and behavioral problems due to isolation, negative impacts on learning, exhaustion in our workforce, and financial impacts of career disruptions. As a city government, there are limits to what can be done to combat and recover from COVID, but I would advocate for the following actions.
Promoting the importance of healthy diet and lifestyle for maintaining a strong immune system.
Encouraging the availability of healthy food choices within walking distance to neighborhoods.
Continuing promotion and expansion of Parks and Recreation’s #Activefirst programs to encourage our families to get out and be active.
Continuing access to COVID 19 Resource information on the website, city channel, and expand the list of resources available for those struggling with some aspects of COVID.
Reviewing and updating a list of reasonable local action steps to help protect citizens based on COVID 19 rates.
Considering new methods of tracking local COVID rates that are more effective in identifying spread such as wastewater COVID 19 testing.
Continuing to promote up-to-date vaccinations especially for those in high risk categories.
We have learned that actions we take to combat COVID, like completely shutting down, have unintended and sometimes detrimental consequences. We will have to develop a more balanced approach during future surges that helps protect our front-line workers and high-risk citizens while also keeping people engaged and active.
Julia Dunn: I believe as a city, we must work together to ensure the safety and health of our residents. The City Council is not responsible for creating public health policy and should defer to those with boots on the ground in the health care community. It is important to collaborate and follow best practices as established by the Davidson County Health Department, local area hospitals and our medical community. Individually and collectively, it is important to do whatever we can to be respectful of others. Relying on data of local upswings and downturns of infection, we can reintroduce programs and initiate activities that build community. For economic recovery, we can do our part by supporting local businesses.
2. What are your ideas to promote diversity, inclusion, and belonging in Lexington?
Burke: I believe the city has made positive strides in becoming a more inclusive community and I hope to help expand on those efforts. Specifically, I would like to encourage the following actions.
Establishing internships throughout city government for our students at Lexington City Schools. The City of Lexington operates water plants, wastewater plants, stormwater management operations, waste management operations, electric operations, natural gas operations, police departments, fire departments, city planning, etc. We should have internships in each of these departments. Through internships workplace skills are learned and relationships created that will improve students career preparedness and possibly encourage their return to Lexington. This may help stop the “brain drain” identified in the 2018 City of Lexington Strategic Plan Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats analysis and improve workforce diversity.
Continuing to expand the diversity of businesses to attract various groups of citizens.
Continuing to support efforts by the Parks and Recreation Department and the YMCA to engage our families in educational and recreational activities.
Expanding on our Multicultural Festival to have heritage days throughout the year.
Hosting entertainment venues at Breeden Insurance Amphitheater that have more local and diverse entertainers which will reduce the ticket prices and allow more participation by a diversity of our community.
Hosting family movie nights at the amphitheater that are free to the public.
It is important that city leadership is always being intentional about being inclusive when driving new initiatives.
Dunn: Promoting inclusion and a sense of belonging begins by demonstrating respect and valuing others. It is important that each individual takes ownership in our city. An important part of my platform is “Focus on becoming a culturally responsive community.” This begins by recognizing the inequities and injustices within our community, then working to make needed changes. It is imperative that we encourage respect, create a community of kindness, compassion and learn to value others’ opinions. Education is a valuable tool. We learn about the struggles of others, combat prejudices, and change perspectives. When we take the time to learn about other cultures, faiths, and races, we grow to become a more empathic and welcoming community. As a councilwoman, I would welcome dialogue and entertain ideas from the residents on how to make these needed improvements. A true strength of Lexington is our diversity. The City of Lexington, through our Parks and Recreation Department, supports The Multi-Cultural Festival. During the month of February, our city kicked off “Celebrate Black History Month With Love” by honoring and celebrating our own hometown heroes - men and women who have made notable contributions and positive impacts on the quality of life in our city. It is my desire that Lexington will grow to become more collaborative and intentional in our efforts to create a more equitable and inclusive city for our residents. We can expand awareness by sponsoring more events that educate, encourage and promote inclusion for all.
3. What improvements in infrastructure do you support that would help with the rebuilding of the Depot District and other parts of Lexington?
Burke: Lexington faces significant infrastructure investment demands. Capital projects include a $19.3 million investment in our water plant to extend operations another 15 years. Our wastewater plant requires a $25 million investment extending the service life 20-25 years. Significant rate hikes would be required to cover these costs without outside sources of funding. Lexington is currently working to resolve past financial practices to allow the city to qualify for state grants. These demands don’t include maintaining the 200 miles of water lines and 260 miles of sewer lines which are between 50 and 75 years old. Lexington also currently has a poor road pavement rating with a $16.5 million backlog in road resurfacing demand. The city needs to spend $1 million dollars a year to make traction on this backlog. I support each of these projects to strengthen and repair our infrastructure. Other infrastructure improvements are optional, and my support depends on the cost and benefits. I do support the new $5.3 million delivery station in North Davidson to increase customer base and power reliability. I am concerned about the ~$14 million renovation cost of the Windstream building. The announcement $24.9 million 2020 Build grant to build a train/bus station and improvements to rail crossing safety was a huge and hard-fought win by our city leadership and will lead to exciting future projects. Unfortunately, unlike the other projects discussed, there is limited to no access on details of additional infrastructure costs for the Depot district.
Dunn: The Depot District has in place much of the infrastructure needed to expand and grow. The master plan which includes the addition of passenger rail, new tunnel and public safety features is a reality thanks to large federal grants and dedicated funds from the city. As a city, we need to continue to evaluate our aging water treatment facilities, waste handling facility, storm water, streets and sewer lines. It is imperative that the city continue to seek Grant Funding to help pay for these ambitious projects. If we want our city to continue to grow commercially and residentially, we must expand electric, water and sewage services. This increases our customer base and tax base as well as population based opportunities for grants and partnerships.
4. What is your opinion on the best way to support our homeless population in the wake of increasing poverty due to the pandemic?
Burke: Archbishop Desmond Tutu is quoted as saying, "There comes a point when we need to just stop pulling people out of the river. We need instead to go upstream and find out why they're falling in." For some of our homeless population, they do fall in, but for many of our citizens living in poverty they aren’t falling in, they are born in it. Making sure people don’t fall into poverty or homelessness is critical but keeping them from being born into it is an even bigger challenge. I have volunteered for many organizations that assist citizens with improving their life outcomes. Those organizations, and the people that work within them, are wonderful assets to our community and the people they serve. But I believe it is the personal friendships our citizens develop with those in need that will stem this tide of struggles. I know this because I see it carried out every day by my wife, Beth. Beth has a passion for loving those that some may feel are unlovable, lost, or a menace to society. While some see a “drunk”, a dirty unkept person, or an addict, Beth sees another human being capable of love and being loved. Beth has a particularly close friend she has developed a lifelong friendship with, who years ago would be seen passed out on the side of the road, and through Beth’s love and the help of our institutional services he is rebuilding his life.
Dunn: Homelessness is a multifaceted, complex issue. The causes of homelessness may be due not only to poverty, but substance/alcohol abuse, mental health issues, post incarceration, domestic violence and other health concerns. To simply give a person shelter and food is a short term, band aide approach. I believe ideas coming from our community leaders and agencies should be supported. Consolidating services that assist and benefit those experiencing homelessness on one site with the creation of Davidson County Connect and utilization of NC Care 360 offers the best hope to meet each client where she or he is at. Coordinating services among multiple agencies can help clients facilitate goals to move from homelessness to a stable life style. Davidson Connect would provide immediate assistance with shelter, food, and healthcare as well as make referrals for mental health services, assist in obtaining benefits, job training and transitional housing. It is an ambitious initiative; one that our city, agencies and faith community should embrace and support.
5. If you could choose one word to describe what you want your impact on Lexington to be, what would it be?
Burke: Inclusive
Dunn: Positive
