One thing we all have in common is our desire for community. This may be social, it may be business, or it may simply be the desire just to be heard.

Maitland is a great place to find community - but we also have room to improve.

I am excited to create more regular opportunities for community in Maitland, to ensure every person who wants to be more involved, engaged, or simply just informed, has a regular and reliable place to do so.

Traffic - both congestion and safety- is something that affects every Maitland resident. I believe that the best approach to this problem is multi-faceted and long-term.

First, we must consider which agency controls each street and intersection before addressing a traffic problem. Many of our most problematic roadways are managed outside of the City. This is one reason I feel it is so important to have a candidate that has the experience, knowledge, and willingness to build and grow relationships between Maitland and other entities.

Next, we must prioritize traffic studies and other objective methods of measurement. This strategy, along with increased opportunities for civic engagement, will help to ensure Maitland addresses the needs of all neighborhoods equitably.

Finally, the importance of attracting small businesses and improving the pedestrian/bike safety across Maitland cannot be ignored. Just one benefit is decreased traffic congestion as residents enjoy more opportunities to socialize, shop, and do business right here at home.

One of the best ways to ensure our residents can safely enjoy the beautiful parks, museums, and businesses that Maitland has to offer is to ensure the development and maintenance of walking/biking paths.

If we are strategic in our placement and impeccable with our care of these paths, we will allow members of the community to take full advantage of all our city has to offer, while caring for the environment, reducing road congestion, and enhancing the resident experience.

I believe that the Maitland Library is an important part of our community’s identity, valued by my own young family and countless others.

We know that the future of the Maitland Library will be addressed over the next few years. I promise to be a strong advocate for our library and to ensure that plans are consistent with our community’s vision, values and needs.

As our City faces decisions about local institutions like this one, it is imperative that Maitland has leaders who will approach them logically, intentionally, with a clear and consistent vision.

To learn more about the City’s ongoing library project, visit the City of Maitland website.

Our local Maitland businesses are a vital part of our community, made up of storefronts that have been with us for decades, as well as new, enterprising small businesses.

As a small business owner myself, I know how important it is to be intentional in decision-making. If we act with a clear and consistent vision of our future in mind, we can confidently attract the types of businesses that we want , that enhance our residential community while boosting our local economy.

Maitland is fortunate to have renowned art and history museums, an orchestra, talented resident artists and musicians, among other outlets for the arts.

Arts and culture constitute a vital part of our Maitland community and should be fostered and preserved intentionally as we plan for our future.

I believe that one way we can invest in the future of Maitland is through a commitment to public art.

One of my goals for Maitland is the reinstatement of a Public Art Committee, as a step toward creating a long-term plan for the development and commission of public works of art.

We should invest in our existing parks, always considering the best possible use for Maitland residents first. Our citizens should be informed of and involved in these conversations, to ensure we are best serving their needs.

With each improvement, we must be mindful of the environmental sustainability of our plans, while remaining consistent with our future vision.

We can also build upon our current parks system with strategically-placed pocket parks. These mini-parks help support our ecosystem, raise property values, and increase our residents’ enjoyment of their neighborhood.