UA student runs for City Council
James Baker
Issue date: 9/15/08 Section: News
|
"When you feel you have more knowledge and people say run, you say, 'Well, I can do that,'" Lewis said.
While shaking hands and greeting children in French beside her booth, nestled in the bustling Fayetteville Farmer's Market Saturday morning between banjo players and flower stands, Lewis said the road to her candidacy has "been a process of moving into leadership jobs in other city positions and knowing the town."
Lewis, a Ph.D. candidate in Environmental Dynamics, is running for the Ward 4 position for City Council that covers areas of west Fayetteville close to campus, including Wedington, Porter Road, and 6th Street.
Lewis said the City Council, which is run through a mayor-council city system where the council undertakes legislative responsibilities, needs to be shaken up.
"Our council is more reactive than legislative right now," she said. "I think there are some good things happening and green projects being approved, but our city ordinances need to catch up with our ideas."
Lewis said she believes downtown needs a lot of work and more promotion.
"Instead of saying 'stop this' or 'stop that' in terms of sprawl, why not say 'do this' with our downtown?" she said. "People don't even know how to get here, yet this is what makes our town unique."
Lewis said she supports incentives for environmental business development, sustaining hillside protection, the improvement of tree preservation and developing a traffic calming plan throughout the city.
Lewis also has endorsed infrastructure connectivity, the creation of walkable and bikeable communities and protecting surface water resources.
Lewis also said she didn't believe a stigma of a student running for a city position existed among locals.
"I've received a lot of support as a student, and people have embraced many of the new ideas I've brought to the table," she said.
Be the first to comment on this story