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I'm Kevin Sullivan. My wife Blaire and I have lived in Statesville since 2021. I'm a partner in a financial services firm with locations in North Carolina and Arizona. I see the growth potential in Statesville and greatly appreciate the quiet lifestyle this area boasts, which is why we live here. I am a Fiduciary in my business life, which means I'm required by law to do what is in the best interest of my clients. I plan to bring that Fiduciary responsibility to Statesville City Council, stand up for the taxpayers and assure that decisions that are made are in the best interest of YOU, the resident and taxpayer.
As I have lived here and attended multiple City Council meetings, I've seen a pattern with some Council Members not taking adequate steps to assure that decisions being made are in the Best Interest of the taxpayers. For example; In a July meeting, someone was trying to purchase a piece of land from the city. Out of 7 Council Members, only 2 recommended that we appraise the property prior to selling, to assure that we were getting fair market value in the sale. David Jones, who I'm running against in Ward 1, declined to have the appraisal, and he is in the Real Estate Business, a fact I find very troubling. If you were going to sell your home, you would obtain an estimate of value, that is just logical.
I need your help if you live in Ward 1. There are only 3600 registered voters in Ward 1, so EVERY VOTE is critical. We have several Council Members that are very responsible and apply good logic to decisions that affect all our lives. We need more responsible decision makers and so I'm signing up to do my part. You can make a positive impact as well, by simply voting. This is an off year and Election Day is October 10, 2023. You can early vote at the Iredell County Board of Elections or on Election day at the same place or the Statesville Family Fitness Center. PLEASE VOTE!
1. If elected what would be your first priority and how does this compare to the top concerns of voters you talk to? What do you see as Statesville’s greatest challenge going forward and also the greatest assets and strengths?
The Voters I’ve spoken to in Statesville are concerned about the lack of accountability on decisions when spending taxpayer money. As a Fiduciary in my business life, it is my intention to bring that responsibility to the City Council and assure that we are making decisions that are effective and that positive long-term benefits to Statesville taxpayers. The benefits need to be measurable, and we need to be accountable for good smart business decisions.
2. According to the US Census, Statesville has a lower percentage of home ownership compared to the North Carolina average, approximately 54% compared to approximately 67%. What can you do to help promote more home ownership in Statesville?
We need to make Statesville a business and industry friendly community. Every large business that looks at Statesville has a due diligence team that assesses the potential for either expansion or relocation. As a City, we should approach courting business and industry in the same manor, with organized approaches to attracting those businesses and industry. When business and industry build, workers are required, which not only provides jobs, but gives residents the ability to purchase homes instead of renting. Another benefit of this effort is reduced crime. When people are employed, crime is reduced, making Statesville a safer place to live.
3. Statesville has lost out on some major companies relocating here, what do you think needs to change in order to change those outcomes?
It is my belief that we fail to appeal to these company’s because we are not organized in a manner that appeals to and creates confidence for a company to relocate to Statesville. We must approach them much in the same manner as they approach us, from a business metrics perspective. What are the KPI”s, (Key Performance Indicators) for both sides. We need to have our own due diligence committee that can/should understand what those major companies desire, how do we accomplish achieving those desires, does it make business sense for Statesville to accommodate that business and how does the company and Statesville mutually benefit from the transaction. When you can define those objectives in an organized and cohesive fashion, businesses will come because we will have a reputation as a business-friendly community.
4. If you grew up here what is different from your childhood growing up here now? If you did not grow up here what do you think is missing here in Statesville that we should have? Do your grown children live here in Statesville? Why or why not?
I did not grow up here, nor do I have children. I have however lived in many places throughout my life. It is my belief that infrastructure is critical to the success of a city and its residents. I don't mean electricity, plumbing, trash collection, etc. those items are obvious requirements in our society. Infrastructure, in my mind, is elected officials that are doing what’s in the best interest of the citizens, not what's in their own best interest or the best interest of someone they know. When you demonstrate that quality in Government, business and industry want to be here. They want positive surroundings for their employees because when the employee is content, they are more productive, which is not only good for the employer, but good for the employee. This process moves through the community by promoting home ownership and success, which results in family unity and peaceful lives. It also results in reduced crime, because people are busy and the family unit is intact and promotes community responsibility.
5. All of the public schools in the City Limits are failing according to the State metrics. This hurts when recruiting good paying industries and home values. What can the city do to change this?
We have a number of new Board of Education members in Iredell County, several of which have only served just under a year. The City should be holding the Board of Education accountable and working with the Board to develop a set of KPI’s that strive to improve the system to the State’s metrics. We must invest in our Schools because as industry and business evaluate the potential of moving to Statesville, Schools are a priority for the employees..
6. The city has a crime problem, an effective strategy that other communities use is community policing where the police are on foot or bicycles. What do you think of community policing? What can you do to improve areas where crime rates are highest?
Foot and bicycle policing are effective ways to deal with crime. I am not an expert in this area by any stretch of the imagination. My sense is that community policing is also every effective and can act as a deterrent for crime. There is a DOJ program, https://cops.usdoj.gov/cpd that demonstrates structure, development and accreditation for the community policing. When everyone has “eyes” on crime, it makes it more difficult to commit a crime and increasing the probability of getting caught, which is a natural deterrent. Additionally, and back to some of the other questions, the fact is that when people are educated and employed, they are busy working, raising families, improving their lives. and are not focused on committing crimes.
7. Why do you want this office and what qualities give you the edge for this position?
In my business life, I’m a fiduciary. This means that I am legally obligated to do what’s in the best interest of my clients. I am also a business owner and have been for over 20 years, so I understand the elements that attract businesses. I’ll bring my fiduciary ethic to this Council and hold people accountable for their decisions and actions. That is a foundational element of what this City needs to start becoming a place that is friendly to business and its residents. We have a short period of time to fix the issues that continue to plague the lack of business attractiveness of Statesville, before we are simply “passed over” during the consideration process. Our window is closing. and we need strong leaders to drive this process forward. I plan on being one of those leaders, should the residents believe that I am worthy of their votes.
8. Looking south to Mooresville and their growth and changes, what do you think they are doing that we can learn from, both the good and the bad?
I lived in Mooresville prior to moving to Statesville in 2021. I watched a community explode with development, overloading the road infrastructure, which is still occurring to this day. If you’ve ever been to exit 36 in the morning, lunchtime or dinner time, it's a mess. This is due to lack of planning and coordination with the DOT on road infrastructure. The positives are high end housing developments, which generate tax revenue and therefore help to subsidize schools and attract teachers. Mooresville schools are some of the best in NC. The top 5 schools in Mooresville are all in the top 10% or better in the entire State. We need to work towards achieving those same figures in Statesville.
9. Who is a role model, someone in your life that you strive to emulate or that you learned a life lesson from, someone that you carry with you, in your role as a public servant?
Winston Churchill for 2 succinct reasons and quotes:
Churchill: 1. "never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never -- in nothing, great or small, large or petty -- never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy."
Churchill: 2. "The price of greatness is responsibility."
Having a big sale, on-site celebrity, or other event? Be sure to announce it so everybody knows and gets excited about it.
Are your customers raving about you on social media? Share their great stories to help turn potential customers into loyal ones.
Running a holiday sale or weekly special? Definitely promote it here to get customers excited about getting a sweet deal.
Have you opened a new location, redesigned your shop, or added a new product or service? Don't keep it to yourself, let folks know.
Customers have questions, you have answers. Display the most frequently asked questions, so everybody benefits.
Every other week the City Council of Statesville meets and makes decisions that impact the residents and tax payers of this City. After each meeting, I will be preparing a summary discussion document of the critical items that affect YOU and how you can voice your opinion.
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