Candidates tackle growth, transparency
Although the mayoral candidates also were scheduled to speak, Alderman Alex Cain, one of the candidates along with Louise Povlin, was unable to attend because of a death in the family. That mayoral forum was rescheduled to, July 2.
However, club members did hear from North Ward alderman candidates Dian Hall and Joey Ruffalo and South Ward alderman candidates Greg Wiberley and incumbent Joe LaCroix.
“My platform, what I’m running on, is transparency,” said Joe LaCroix said. “Our government needs to speak to the people. The people are very in charge of what we do.
“When I was appointed to that position, I started holding meetings, where people could come in to talk to me,” he said, adding he also puts out information on his social media page regarding the Board’s upcoming agendas.
Also, “people need to step in and talk to us, talk to the Town, to get the Comprehensive Land Use Plan going,” LaCroix said.
Another issue he sees is the Town’s infrastructure the Town needs to address.
“The Town does a really good job with roadways,” LaCrox said. “But we need to make sure our roads are updated, our parks are taken care of, the greenways … stormwater. That costs money.
He also related the “incident that affected our stormwater system in Turkey Creek. That’s a major focus of mine,” he said. “I’ve already spoken to the Town administrator on what I would like to do.”
Regarding finances, “We are very conservative in the Town of Farragut,” LaCroix said. “We need to focus on maintaining that [excess budget]. We need to collect more revenues … keeping our expenditures in line.”
He said one of the strategies to “help develop that revenue stream” is hiring an economic development coordinator “so we don’t have to worry in 10 years.”
Another focus, LaCroix said, is protecting residents from development and “maintaining the community’s character,” as well as crime.
“I’ve spoken with the sheriff-elect, Brent Gibson, and he said he would like to see more patrols [in Farragut],” the candidate said.
“My campaign is based on three general themes: caring, community and competence,” said Wiberley, a long-time Town resident. “Based on everything I’ve experienced, I’ve seen issues that must be faced by the next Town administration. I have witnessed how the Town has become urbanized beyond what the founders have intended.
“I have seen some of my elderly neighbors live under the cloud of eminent domain for years, finally having to spend significant amounts of money to defend their property rights,” he said. “So, for decades now I have answered the call when Farragut needed me … and that is why I am running for alderman.”
In the North Ward, Ruffalo said he was inspired to be civically active by his father, a blind Army veteran, who taught him the importance of voting at 4 years old.
“He believed if you care about your community, you don’t just complain about problems, you get involved,” Ruffalo said. “My wife and I chose [to live in] Farragut,” he said. “But choosing a community and investing in a community are two different things.”
For the last two years, Ruffalo has served as vice chairman on the Farragut Visitor Tourism Advisory Board, is on the Shop Farragut/Farragut Business Alliance board, a Rotary Club of Farragut member and Farragut West Knox Chamber of Commerce member.
Through that, he said he listened to what people want in Farragut and what they want improved.
“People want to preserve what makes Farragut special, through planning for the future,” Ruffalo said.
“I’m not anti-growth,” he said. “I’m not pro-growth for growth’s sake. I’m pro strategic growth.”
Ruffalo also is for strengthening partnerships and supporting economic opportunities.
“The issues require cooperation,” he said. “I want to see a Town that’s financially strong, supports local businesses, preserves its unique character and continues to be one of the most desired communities in East Tennessee.”
Also running for the North Ward alderman seat, being vacated by Alderman Scott Meyer, who is term-limited, Hall is an Air Force veteran who served for 27 years.
"One of the key things I want to bring to this job, this position, is the ability to work with people, to talk to people … to work together to come up with solutions,” she said.
From her service, Hall also has experience in emergency response and emergency plans.
“I know that our town has one [emergency response plan],” she said but added it was difficult to find.
