Preserve the village charm, green space, and safety of our neighborhoods

Traffic efficiency:

• Our City needs a more comprehensive strategy on traffic, because we’re at a point where if we fix one issue without looking at the entire ecosystem, we are just pushing the problem elsewhere. I have a very simple set of filters as to how I think about prioritizing traffic needs - if it creates a safety issue, or gets so bad I reconsider my travel in that area, we have a problem. We will collaborate with DOT, regional commissions, and surrounding communities to identify alternative routes and potential new roads around—rather than through—the city with a comprehensive, city-wide study that includes commuter patterns. This approach will help divert heavy traffic away from neighborhoods, improving safety and quality of life for residents, and look beyond just specific intersections to understand the entire ecosystem.  My extensive experience in Development at Disney included evaluating highly complex traffic situations and providing long-term solutions - I’m eager to roll up my sleeves on this one.

• I am prioritizing addressing traffic efficiency on highway 54 while preserving neighborhood safety and charm. We are unlikely to make any changes to the existing north / south improvement scope that is already underway, but have work to do now on the east / west traffic.  Reducing backups here will shorten commute times, lower stress for drivers, and reduce the temptation for cut-through traffic in residential areas. Once the highway 74 construction starts to bear results, we can determine what additional changes are needed there.

• Our city can improve through some quicker fixes. We can implement light synchronization along congested corridors; for example, six lights between Hwy 74 and MacDuff within ¾ mile currently contribute to backups. Coordinated timing will improve traffic flow, reduce idling, lower emissions, and improve travel predictability.

• We will focus on city-funded solutions like traffic circles and improved pathway networks to reduce congestion beyond just major intersections. Smaller-scale projects can have big impacts on safety and travel times without requiring lengthy state approval processes.

• In all of this, we will work to limit the use of residential neighborhoods as traffic cut-throughs, ensuring safety and protecting the village feel. This measure will decrease speeding and through-traffic in neighborhoods, making streets safer for pedestrians and children.

Cart Path Safety:

• Our cart paths are so much of what makes our City special. Our residents are asking for increased safety on these paths - we will call for Police and City to more effectively enforce speed limits and safe driving rules on multi-use paths, and consider programs like Golf Cart Drivers Ed for those without a drivers license. Improved safety on the paths will reduce accidents and keep the system enjoyable for all ages.

• We can also enhance path safety with wider lanes where possible, add convex mirrors at blind turns, and faster repair of hazards. These improvements make paths safer for both motorized and non-motorized users, encouraging more people to use them.

Green Space & Recreation:

• Peachtree City is a simply stunning community - and we have a shared responsibility to protect and grow that natural beauty. Much of it is attributed to the green spaces we cherish — as a result, we will maintain and expand green space in new developments, reinforcing the Village concept in zoning guidelines and via the Unified Development Ordinance. Green spaces promote recreation, improve air quality, and protect property values.

• Our city will thrive by partnering with organizations like the Southern Conservation Trust to enhance interactive green spaces. This expands recreational opportunities and fosters a stronger sense of community connection to nature. We can expand multi-generational recreation options, including safe evening activities for teens, more daycare facilities, and indoor recreation spaces. These amenities attract families, improve quality of life, and support community engagement year-round.

Thrive by supporting small businesses, smart growth, and housing balance

Small Businesses

• As the heartbeat and fabric of our community, these special gems need our full support. Peachtree City will be a place where small businesses thrive, we reduce red tape, making it easier to start and maintain operations. This encourages entrepreneurship, job creation, and keeps money circulating in the local economy. The addition of a one-stop-shop City resource to help small businesses navigate the required permitting and setup will be an investment that pays off quickly.

• On their behalf, I will engage with commercial property owners to address rapid rent increases that threaten small businesses. Stable rents allow local shops to thrive, keeping the community vibrant and diverse.

• Connecting our small businesses by making it easy for them to engage in community events and bring visibility to their unique offerings will be key to how we continue to thrive, together.

• Forming a small business listening forum to regularly hear perspectives of these business owners and ensure their voices are well understood and represented.

Smart Growth

• One of the special things about Peachtree City is you know exactly when you’re in the city… and also when you’re not. No billboards, beautiful spaces, and the village feel are all essential to what makes this city special. Growth is part of building a vibrant future, but it needs to be smart growth. For our city, I will tightly vet commercial developments to ensure they enhance rather than erode the Village concept. This protects the community’s small-town character while still allowing for economic growth. I’ll evaluate not only the primary benefits and risks, but also the strategic benefits and implications of each choice, as well as any secondary impacts. Establishing a clearer rubric for this vetting will be part of our rigor.

• We also have existing spaces in need of revitalization. Reinvesting in vacant or underperforming spaces to revitalize commerce without unnecessary expansion will be a top priority, addressing dated facilities and underperforming areas within our City. Revitalization encourages local spending, improves aesthetics, and strengthens the tax base.

Housing Density

• I am eager to address the recent growth in higher-density developments, which can overcrowd schools and further congest traffic.

• Housing density is a complex topic that can quickly introduce bias. I’m eager to approach this with the facts, and stay focused on clear criteria for how our city addresses housing decisions — ensuring it maintains the village feel, validate it will not exacerbate our existing traffic issues, and conduct a detailed financial analysis on the financial benefits and tradeoffs.

Our Schools, Police, and First Responders

• Our schools are top-notch, and we should relish, celebrate, and protect them. Our educators are extraordinary, and having had children through Crabapple Lane Elementary, JC Booth Middle, and McIntosh High has given me a wide opportunity to see our teachers and administrators first hand - they deserve our strongest support. Their commitment to our children is remarkable, and I consider our schools one of the shining gems of Peachtree City. You will continue to find me avidly supporting them.

• Police Chief Moon and her force are also incredible - they do a remarkable job not only protecting our city, but also building relationships across our City. They are paired with an incredible team of First Responders who, together, help us thrive as a city. I am certain these teams will continue to be put to the test, and they have my full support as we continue to build our future.

Specific Population Support

• With a Peachtree City resident family member who is a Veteran, I’ve seen firsthand the complexity navigating Veteran benefits and the VA office. Our city is special because of our Veterans - the impression I’ve seen them have on the children at Crabapple Lane Elementary Veteran’s Day celebration is forever seared in my memory. We owe them streamlined, concierge-style support for access to the benefits they so justly deserve and I plan to implement such a resource should I be elected.

• I’ve heard loudly the need for age group-specific recreation and lifestyle offerings — specifically increasing the daycare options in Peachtree City, providing safe, even hours gathering spaces for teenagers, and expanding the senior recreation offerings around the city.

Connect with open communication, transparency, and community

Listening

• I am a listener, and you can count on me to model servant leadership through consistent presence, preparation, and respect for diverse perspectives. A leadership style based on listening and service strengthens community unity and trust. I also believe strongly anyone serving in public office needs to be a role model for our children. I will commit to you that I will be exactly that, and look forward to meeting you and your family on Drake Field or at the Farmer’s Market and hearing what you all have to say.

• Creating more forums for our community to come together and be heard can only help our City grow. We will host quarterly Town Halls and create online listening panels to gather input before decisions are finalized. This gives residents a stronger voice in shaping policies that affect them and ensures leaders are aware of diverse perspectives.

• I also oppose further limitations on public comment time at City Council meetings and allow civil input on agenda items. Preserving open dialogue helps maintain transparency and trust in local government.

Transparency

• We grow together through honest, transparent discussions. We won’t always agree on everything, but you can count on me to share my opinion (and not adjust it so you’re hearing what you want to hear), and I will count on you for the same. Together, we can progress forward. I’m committed to increasing transparency to reduce the risk of conflicts of interest and corruption and minimize any perception of such.   Work with Communications team, we can expand how we promote educational workshops and programs to get more people connected to streaming City Council meetings, engaging in online and in-person forums. 

• For our city to grow, we need more interactive discussions to provide a more participatory budget process and a better understanding of SPLOST use. Clear, accessible decision-making processes build public confidence and accountability.  The debates make us better, together - hearing different points of view creates a ‘constructive discomfort’ that gets us to a better outcome in the end - not an ‘us’ versus ‘them’, but we, together, finding the optimal solution. If I could get the Chinese government and a Fortune 50 US company to come to agreement on points of difference when I worked for Disney, I’m confident I can do the same for our City.

• Building our future based on data and facts. Our city comes together when we can use evidence-based decision-making, sharing data with the public to build trust. Residents can better understand and support policies when they see the facts behind them. They often also help generate even better solutions, so more sharing of the data will be a non-negotiable.

Engagement

• Getting the community together is one of the many elements that helps Peachtree City thrive - and you want more of this. More events, more cart paths, more, more, more.

• Cart path expansion helps our traffic issues, ignites one of the delightful elements of our community, and drives connectivity. We will support the Transportation Advisory Group’s community-led approach to path safety and expansion. Engaging residents in decision-making ensures that solutions meet real-world needs.

• Peachtree City needs more community offerings, and with an eye towards specific groups. We’ll collaborate with the Recreation and Special events team to host more community events.  We have amazing facilities in PTC (Drake Field, The Fred, Athletic Fields) that are underutilized.  This will bring residents together more often, create opportunities to engage with our small businesses, foster a sense of community and provide opportunities for interaction with local officials.