The Vision
Through implementing a three-tiered approach to leadership, I plan to advance Berkeley County. This approach focuses on emphasizing economic development throughout the county, emphasizing infrastructure development and improvement throughout the county, and promoting a more people friendly, open government.
Economic Development:
Berkeley County has lower property taxes than counties in the surrounding states. This is an advantage I plan to use in attracting higher paying, quality jobs to the county. In partnering with the economic development authority and many different entities through out the Eastern Panhandle, including, Shepherd University, we can retain quality employees and offer them quality jobs, and we can retain quality employers and offer them educated, qualified employees. Cooperation between state and local elected officials, as well as having a working relationship with local business will move the county towards this goal.
Berkeley County has lower property taxes than counties in the surrounding states. This is an advantage I plan to use in attracting higher paying, quality jobs to the county. In partnering with the economic development authority and many different entities through out the Eastern Panhandle, including, Shepherd University, we can retain quality employees and offer them quality jobs, and we can retain quality employers and offer them educated, qualified employees. Cooperation between state and local elected officials, as well as having a working relationship with local business will move the county towards this goal.
Infrastructure development:
If anyone attempts to travel throughout the county on any given day, they will encounter many obstacles and traffic jams. The gridlock that many drivers face in Inwood is a prime example. With a growing population, comes more responsibility to ensure that citizens will be provided with better roads, access to clean drinking water, and proper infrastructure development to allow for easier driving access and mobility throughout the county. While the county commission is not in charge of road funding, I will partner with local and state leaders to advocate that our concerns are heard and that practical solutions are found.
If anyone attempts to travel throughout the county on any given day, they will encounter many obstacles and traffic jams. The gridlock that many drivers face in Inwood is a prime example. With a growing population, comes more responsibility to ensure that citizens will be provided with better roads, access to clean drinking water, and proper infrastructure development to allow for easier driving access and mobility throughout the county. While the county commission is not in charge of road funding, I will partner with local and state leaders to advocate that our concerns are heard and that practical solutions are found.
Promotion of a more people friendly government:
Government was made by the people, for the people. Currently, the citizens of this county are not able to properly utilize their government. County ordinances passed prior to 2000 can only be found in meeting minutes. County ordinances passed after 2000 can only be found in meeting minutes or through internet access. Many of the residents of Berkeley County do not have access to the internet or the time to ply through meeting after meeting, in their attempts to have a simple question answered. To combat this, I am proposing that the county develop a book of codes to which any citizen can have access if a question about an ordinance should arise.
Additionally, I propose that the county partner with the local media to disseminate county government information including, but not limited to, agendas of County Commission meetings, ordinances that have been passed by the commission, as well as other grievances and policies that the county has.
Government was made by the people, for the people. Currently, the citizens of this county are not able to properly utilize their government. County ordinances passed prior to 2000 can only be found in meeting minutes. County ordinances passed after 2000 can only be found in meeting minutes or through internet access. Many of the residents of Berkeley County do not have access to the internet or the time to ply through meeting after meeting, in their attempts to have a simple question answered. To combat this, I am proposing that the county develop a book of codes to which any citizen can have access if a question about an ordinance should arise.
Additionally, I propose that the county partner with the local media to disseminate county government information including, but not limited to, agendas of County Commission meetings, ordinances that have been passed by the commission, as well as other grievances and policies that the county has.
