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LeOtis Williams

Editor’s Note: Each candidate was sent a list of questions and asked to send them back to SNH for publication. At the time of publication, SNH has not heard back from LeOtis Williams.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Jason Wooldridge

Tell the voters a little about yourself. (Where are you from, what area of Suffolk do you live, family, work, hobbies, etc.)

My name is Jason Wooldridge, I am a Christian and a husband to my lovely wife of 26 years, Stefanie. We have lived on 22 acres of farmland in Suffolk, VA for the past 17 years and are both lifelong residents of Virginia. I am an 8-year veteran of the U.S. Navy, a small business entrepreneur, and I hold a Bachelor of Science in Electronics Engineering and a second Bachelor of Science in Project Management. I have worked as an engineer for the past 13 years, first at Newport News Shipbuilding and currently at Oceaneering International, Inc.

What made you decide you were interested in serving as a member of the Suffolk City Council?

I have watched our country turn away from its founding principles as a constitutional republic based on Christian values. I have witnessed an elite ruling class rise at all levels of our government. Most recently, I have witnessed our current city council ask for and then ignore the opinions of the citizens of Suffolk regarding the growth of our city. Now quite frankly, I am tired of being ignored. I want to bring transparency, fiscal responsibility, and true citizen representation back to our city and what better way to do that other than step up and run for office.

What do you see as the council’s roles and responsibilities?

A city council’s job is to make policies, resolutions, and ordinances that manage services and undertake projects which will ultimately benefit the citizens of the city. This includes approving the use of the tax revenue and other income the city must use to pay for the services and projects through a balanced annual budget. It also includes decisions about the growth and development of the city and should reflect the best interests of the citizens who elected them to accomplish this work.

How would you describe an effective council member?

In a world of immediate gratification  an effective council member is someone who will attempt to see the long-term outcomes of the decisions and actions required in the present. I fully believe that someone who is not thinking about the generational consequences of policies and projects the city undertakes is doing the citizens a disservice.  Good council members should take the citizens’ concerns and apply the outcome to the next generation and attempt to make the best decision based on that point of view and not solely the immediate benefit. Just because you can doesn’t mean you should.

In what ways will you gain feedback from the community on concerns and projects facing the city of Suffolk? How do you plan to use such feedback?

I have no delusions that I have all the answers to all the questions and challenges our city faces. I am reminded of Proverbs 15, Plans fail when there is no counsel, but with many advisers they succeed. Suffolk has many citizen activist groups, civic leagues, organizations, and associations. Feedback and input from these community leaders is readily available to any council member who will listen. If elected I will listen and apply that counsel to my decision-making process to arrive at the best solution possible. This will not always make everyone happy, but it will represent the majority well.

What in your background leads you to believe you would be an effective council member?

As a lead engineer I am continually seeking the most open communications from my team to ensure all the data and facts are being considered when making critical decisions. I am what I would call risk adverse, meaning I am very careful to fully examine the potential positive and negative outcomes of an action before deciding to move forward with it or not. I do not rely on emotional responses, and I plan to apply this same risk adverse approach when making critical decisions as a council member for our city.

In your opinion, what are the most important issues facing your borough?

Suffolk has an agricultural heritage that is rapidly declining due to the loss of farmland, this has a negative economic effect. I personally see that rapid expansion into undeveloped areas will continue to have costly results for the taxpayer because of non-existent infrastructure. Suffolk is growing at a rate that is outpacing our ability to support the needs of the citizens. We need more schools, fire, and police stations to accommodate the growth. The city needs to improve the condition and capacity of our roadways, water and sewer systems, as well find an answer to an affordable housing shortage.

What is your long-term vision for the City of Suffolk?

I am not against growth, but we need to focus on redeveloping older areas of the city vs expanding into undeveloped land. Prioritizing redevelopment in areas of downtown should be the priority vs the course we are on. These areas contain needed infrastructure which supports growth and more appropriately answers the need for affordable housing. Prioritizing the redevelopment of downtown would improve the conditions of the city, provide business opportunities, and support growth. It would place affordable housing within walking distance of existing businesses which would benefit both the local businesses and citizens compared to spreading out into agricultural land.

Where do you see the city in 5, 10, and 20 years from now?

I do not want the Peanut City Capital of The World to become a truck stop full of warehouses. I envision the balanced growth of our city while embracing our unique culture and heritage. I wish for a renewed interest in agriculture as a viable economic contributor. I dream of a city embracing the development of trades and a skilled workforce that attracts manufacturing and technical jobs. Most of all I want Suffolk, our city, my home, to be a place that in spite of the growth and no matter how big, remains woven to our small-town culture and feel.

What is something voters may not know about you that you would like them to know?

If I am elected my commitment to you as a public servant is to dutifully represent you in good faith to improve the quality of our community. I will not trade freedom for favor, nor my dignity for benefit and I refuse to lose my integrity to persuasion.

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