It is my honor to officially declare myself as a candidate for Mayor of Chestertown.
I firmly believe that this is a critical moment for our town’s future, where proactive leadership and a unifying vision are needed to support and strengthen both our community and local economy. If elected, I believe in bringing accessibility and openness to the office and being the positive conduit for ideas and needs of the people. Chestertown is full of bright and passionate people who are just waiting for the right initiative to get them involved.
By seeing active positive change and knowing their voices are being heard, people are uplifted and have renewed optimism about the place they call home. Projects that become mired and incomplete or done without vetting lead to discontent and a disconnect between the Town officials and its citizens. My goal is to implement ideas that will promote a greater sense of community and respect among Chestertowns diverse residents, long established and new to the town; to help reconcile relations between Town and County and strengthen the ties with local business institutions and the municipality.
Born and raised in Chestertown, I attended Kent County Public Schools before earning a BA in Communications from Messiah College and Temple University. For the last 15 years I have owned and operated my own business as a location manager in the film industry. In addition, I have worked as a public school teacher in the inner city, as a youth baseball coach, community organizer, job counselor, and outreach coordinator for an urban family center.
I have been involved in numerous organizations aimed at improving our community including as Vice President of the Tea Party Festival, as a producer and performer at the Garfield Center, with Women in Need, (my sisters organization), the Samaritan Group, and the DCA. Most recently as Chair of the re-formed Chestertown Recreation Commission, I helped to create the popular Movies in the Park series and bring serious attention and planning to the Towns need to improve its recreational facilities.
Beginning in June, I collected over 225 signatures to be placed on the ballot in November, well over 200 more than the required 20 necessary to qualify. I wanted to spend time getting to know the people I was asking to represent. I did not want it to be simply my idea or the urging of my friends, I wanted to hear from the folks that would be counting on me.
It has been incredibly humbling going door to door, to ask the permission of strangers if I can represent them. I tried to visit every neighborhood, there is after all a big difference between the lives of folks on Flatland Road and those that live in the River Wards, and it is important to recognize and relate to both. The most amazing thing about this process is that it has given me a reason to simply visit with my neighbors again. It reminded me of growing up when I would go out on a Saturday with my grandfather, just taking the time to stop in on folks and talk a while. The chance to go spend some time with neighbors has been extraordinary and
revealed Chestertown to me in a way that is both surprising and inspiring.
Among the agenda items and projects I hope to work towards, are capital improvements of sidewalk access and lighting from Morgnec & Flatland Roads and the creation of multiple recreational facilities and programs for families, children and adults. Also key are evaluating and revising the procedures and policies of the Town allowing for better transparency and process, as well as promoting a more positive business community with the creation of a Community Development Corporation, (CDC) to bring a unified business plan and opportunities to the Downtown, Plaza and outlying businesses. I have already met personally met with many currently in leadership positions and hope to bring a more collaborative approach to working with major stakeholders, to be proactive, rather than reactive.
Having a vision for the Town naturally begins with its immediate needs, but it also means looking at where we hope the town should be in 5, 10, 20 years and laying the groundwork for those ideas now. I believe it is not merely my solutions alone to the issues the town is facing today, but our collective goals and ideals that will shape our community for the better. It is the job
of the next mayor to bring the best ideas out of our citizens and make them
a reality.
Please visit www.arrowoodformayor.com <https://www.arrowoodformayor.
more information about me and our campaign for Chestertown.
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