Sarah Webster Is Candidate For Re-election
BY AMY ROSE, STAFF WRITER
Sarah E.T. Webster of Tanglewood Drive is a candidate for reelection as 2nd Ward alderman in Greeneville.
She has served as a Greeneville alderman since 1990.
The election is scheduled for Tuesday, June 1, but early voting is currently under way and will continue through Thursday, May 27.
Elections for the Greeneville Board of Mayor and Aldermen are conducted on a non-partisan basis. Candidates run for office as individuals rather than as party representatives.
Webster, 67, is a graduate of Chatham Hall in Chatham, Va., and Randolph Macon Woman's College in Lynchburg, Va.
She lists her occupation as housewife/"domestic engineer."
She is married to Dr. Thomas N. Webster and has two grown children and two "wonderful" grandsons.
Webster is chairman of the Greeneville Historic Zoning Commission and the Greeneville-Greene County Regional Solid Waste Planning Board, and serves as a member of the Greeneville Parks & Recreation Advisory Board.
She is an active member of the Greeneville Woman's Club and serves on the board of directors for Keep Greene Beautiful, Main Street: Greeneville, and the Greeneville-Greene County Heritage Trust.
Webster's honors for service include the Dr. L.E. Coolidge Award for Humanitarian Service, the Exchange Club of Greeneville Book of Golden Deeds Award, the Tennessee Main Street Program Award, the Tennessee Network of Community Organizations Community Leader of the Year award, and National Philanthropy Day's Outstanding Volunteer award.
In addition, she was a nominee for the JCPenney Golden Rule Award.
She gave the following responses to questions asked of all five candidates for 2nd Ward alderman:
* Why are you a candidate for alderman?
Webster: "I believe that I have the knowledge and experience to understand what this community wants and needs, and to know how the government of our town can and should work.
"The economy is the major issue of the day. I want jobs created locally and local jobs retained to put our families, friends, and neighbors back to work, improving our local economic condition and quality of life."
* What do you believe is the most important quality that an alderman needs in order to handle this complicated, many-faceted job? What in your background and experience do you believe best prepares you for this office?
Webster: "I think an elected official needs to listen to the voters of our community and be sensitive to their wishes.
"The experience and the knowledge I have gained serving as an alderman have shown me things that work and things that don't work. We don't need to repeat things that have not been successful.
"With my background and working with many local programs over the years, I believe I could be a positive 'resource.' "
* Think 20 years into the future. How do you see Greeneville in 2030? Do you expect growth by "infilling" within the town limits? Do you anticipate a substantial amount of annexation around the current town limits?
Webster: "I see Greeneville as a vibrant, many-faceted community with tourism, antique shopping, retirement venues, outdoor recreational activities, etc.
"We must not be one-dimensional. We should strive to develop all our assets. Obviously we will need 'infilling' within the town limits as well as annexation around the current town limits."
* In your opinion, should the person elected/re-elected alderman take any action concerning the controversial 2008 transfer of maintenance staff from the Dept. of Parks & Recreation to the Dept. of Public Works? If so, what action should be taken? Please explain the reasons for your reply.
Webster: "The elected officials of the Town of Greeneville are to support the charter of the town and its revision of 1979 (ordinance No. 1114).
"That ordinance states that the Dept. of Parks & Recreation 'shall have power to maintain and equip parks, playgrounds, open spaces, and recreation centers and buildings thereon, within and beyond the corporate limits of the town ...'
"I met with the mayor some time after the transfer of maintenance staff was made and asked her if she intended that the transfer would be temporary. If not, I thought that the ordinance should either be amended or rescinded and changed to reflect the true situation.
"Some of the aldermen have requested that this issue be placed on the agenda of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen meeting to be discussed. This has not happened.
"I believe that if the Parks & Recreation Dept. is supposed to maintain its facilities, the maintenance workers should be under the [supervision] of the Director of Parks & Recreation Dept."
* Within the last 10 years, have you been a business partner, property co-owner, etc., with any other candidate for mayor or alderman? If so, give the basic details. Would you see it as a problem for current or recent business partners to serve together on the Board of Mayor and Aldermen? Why or why not?
Webster: "No, I have not.
"In a community as small as Greeneville, the people serving as mayor and alderman, whether they have been in business together or not, have most likely served on boards or committees of the same organizations. It is inevitable.
"Once elected to a position, they are to serve the wishes of the voters and vote for what is in the best interest of the town regardless of their past associations. To my knowledge, it has not posed a problem in the past and should not in the future."
* Closing Highland School has been mentioned as a real possibility after the upcoming 2010-11 school year, to balance the school budget. What is your position on this question?
Webster: "Highland Elementary School has served Greeneville students well for many years.
"It is not the 'bricks and mortar' of the building that has made that service unique to the students at Highland. It has been and still continues to be the instruction, nurturing, caring, and love provided by the faculty and staff.
"There is an attitude that is evidenced daily by those adults that serve the students. That attitude is that these are our students, and they have chosen to be with us.
"It is not all about reading, arithmetic, science, and social studies. It's also about life skills, life lessons, and the nurturing of positive attitudes to a population of students that 'soak that up' like sponges.
"It is a truly special school serving a truly special student body.
"As a representative of the Highland students, parents, faculty, and staff, I will commit to do all that I can to preserve the education and care that these students receive and deserve."
* What steps do you see as appropriate and needed in the Greeneville Historic District?
Webster: "I would like to see a better understanding of what the Greeneville Historic District is and what it means for our community.
"I would also like for the role of our Historic Zoning Commission [to be] better understood. Our District is special in that we have both residential and commercial properties in it. We need to be cautious that we don't lose that."
* Are you comfortable with Greeneville's current level of long-term debt? Why or why not?
Webster: "I think that the board addressed the long-term debt appropriately when we put the poorer-performing portion on fixed rate and the rest on variable rate, allowing for adjustments when the current situation improves."
* Unemployment has been very high during the past year, and while somewhat better now, is still around 15 percent. What, if anything, can the Greeneville Board of Mayor and Aldermen do to help employers keep jobs here, and help in attracting new jobs and employers?
Webster: "We need to find out what help present employers need and assist them when possible.
"We need to find out why some businesses and industries choose not to come to our community, and make adjustments when possible.
"We need to work closely with the county in promoting our whole community as a place to locate.
"I would like to see our board be more actively involved in some of these procedures."
* If you wish to comment on something not covered in a question, please feel free to do so:
Webster: "I love this community, and I want to continue to strive to improve the quality of life for all our citizens.
"I will work hard to keep taxes at a minimum without cutting services.
"I will continue to support protection of our natural, cultural, and historic resources as a priority. If we lose those, we lose our very special identity."
FULL RESULTS OF COUNTY ELECTION
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