After much contemplation and reflection over the last year, I decided to be a candidate for Collegedale Commissioner in the 2020 election. I am not only a proud resident but a product of the town that is my home. I was born in this town. I live in this town. I play in this town - I am Collegedale. I have grown alongside Collegedale and witnessed many moments of triumph, from the day our first red light turned on to the day the same road became a five-lane artery of commerce, growth, and change.
Growth is inevitable, but we can guide it to ensure its direction without losing our identity. We need to address our challenges and opportunities by creating an urban development plan that will outline tools and practices that will shape a more coherent long-range future. We need to ensure we have a safe and resilient community and future. I want to bring more business development by incentivizing developers based on how they align with the urban development plan. Empty buildings detract more than they contribute. Without guided development, we will be overshadowed by the surrounding communities and eventually lost.
Creating connections is at the core what cities do, and it is what leaders must do if they are to succeed. Great cities create connections and relationships between people of all ages, incomes, and races. We need to audit all the qualities that differentiate us. Once these qualities are understood, they need to be developed and promoted to the newly defined demographic to grow new connections.
I am the Director of Information Technology at Girls Preparatory School, where I have experience in long-term planning, project leadership, and finance management. I am also a volunteer AEMT and CPR instructor.
Chris Twombley