Experienced Leadership
Experienced Leadership
After 13 years of active involvement with the City of Universal City, I feel it’s time for me to step up and run for a seat on the City Council this year. Why now, and what is it that I think I can bring to the table?
First, a little about me: My family moved here in 1966. After I graduated from Judson (then a single A school), I met a sailor and traveled the country with him for 30 years until 1999 when we decided to move back home. During my time away, we raised three amazing children. While they were growing up, I became very involved with the schools and local politics. I actively worked with the Richmond 5 school district in Irmo, South Carolina, leading a group of parents in fundraising and then rebuilding the Dutch Fork elementary school playground, establishing a new meteorological station supported by a local television weather team, and creating a new nature trail/walking trail with outdoor classrooms. I helped prepare lesson criteria for the meteorological station and outdoor classrooms. I received a national award provided by Nancy Reagan, the First Lady at the time, and was nominated for Volunteer of the Year for the state of South Carolina. I then worked with the Chattanooga Tennessee City Council to help increase funding for school programs that were on the chopping block. I also worked closely with Superintendents of the two districts in the Chattanooga area, mostly with Harrison County to secure funding for much-needed school buildings and improvements, which came to fruition.
A few years after returning home in 1999, I happened upon a meeting for people interested in building a dog park here in Universal City. After a few meetings, I became one of the committee members responsible for getting things done. There was a lot of legwork, networking, soliciting local businesses, and meetings/presentations, but two years later, we had the grand opening of the now-named Aina B. Blake Dog Park. Leading this group through many fundraisers and meetings, we raised over $85,000 and worked with local businesses for additional needed supplies and equipment for this park, with no city or tax money needed, although they did provide the land. Shortly after the dog park opening, an opportunity presented itself for me to take over Parks and Recreational Partners of Universal City, a non-profit group established in 1969. Proudly, since then, we have raised well over $350K that has been reinvested in Universal City and the improvements in our City Parks. We began the Pumpkin Patch 8 years ago with 100 pumpkins, and now we have expanded significantly. We assist over 18 nonprofits in our city in raising much-needed funds for their organizations, and this last year, we donated over $49k to them. This effort was to maintain and improve our city recreation areas without causing taxes to be raised.
We have trained and embraced hundreds of volunteers through the years who help with many city events and volunteer at the Library and Animal Control. Many of these volunteers have joined other city organizations; the snowball effect of good begets good.
My goal over the years has been to bring Universal City together, celebrate families, and create a city that families can be proud of through great parks, family activities, and an overall feeling of being a real hometown, not just a town next to a military base. I expect and will work for first-class emergency services, city-provided services, and the best city staff available. These are the things that make a city great.
All of this has also given me the opportunity to work with the city managers and employees for many years. I attended nearly every city council meeting for over 12 years and learned vital information about the city's wants and needs. This also brought attention to me of the many boards the city has that are run by resident volunteers. I am now beginning my 7th year of sitting on the Board of Adjustments and Board of Appeals. I served six consecutive years and took two years off until this last term when I applied to return. The BOA is the only board that does not report to the City Council or city officials for approval, and the responsibilities are intense.
I am proud of Universal City and want to see it grow properly. It is paramount we maintain a great working relationship with Joint Base San Antonio Randolph Air Force Base. It is vital our departments be well-funded and run by qualified directors. Our infrastructure must be kept current, and improvements made. Our services must not only be maintained but enhanced over time, and our residents need to feel safe and secure in their own homes.
The future of Universal City rests on having a vision, and my agenda is to bring great things to the city through hard work, communication, education, as well as the city council, to work as a team for the betterment of this city. We have seen what happens when a council is short-sighted. Many years ago, there was no such vision. Land was traded away that today would have been a major source of tax income. Decisions made today need to be right for 5, 10, 20 years into the future. I believe I have that vision, that foresight. I’ve watched the growth (and lack thereof) of this city for over 30 years.
I believe in letting professionals do their job, but also believe questions and concerns are equally important when they come with the spirit of getting the right information.
A good council member knows how to communicate with the residents and work with the city, listening to both and doing the research to get the answers.
Mike and Rachel Voeller, Owners of Gather Brewing Company
Car wash grand opening
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