Leah Foster: Write-In Candidate for Mayor, Greenwood Mo
Posted by jennW in by Jennifer Warren, Featured, GSD Online
Originally we made an editorial decision to not publish the responses of Greenwood’s two write-in candidates. However, Leah Foster and Chris Seagraves have now filed with the Jackson County Election Board and are certified write-in candidates so we are now publishing their Interview Questionnaire’s as well. Below are responses from Leah Foster, candidate for Mayor.
How long have you lived in Greenwood?
My family and I have lived here in Greenwood a little over 6 years.
Are you married? Do you have children, grandchildren, where do they attend school?
I am happily married to my high school sweetheart, Mick and have two wonderful children Hunter, 11 and Mekenna, 9 both currently attending Greenwood elementary.
What religious and civic organizations do you belong to?
I am very involved in the Independence Chamber of Commerce as the company I work for, American Medical Response (AMR), oversees the emergent (911) and non-emergent ambulance transportation in this area, we work with the chamber and regional hospitals to do a variety of community outreach programs. I have been a member of the Greenwood Elementary PTA for the past six years as well as serving on the Board in several different officer positions.
What charities, causes or civic organizations do you support with finances or service?
For the past three years I have acted as team captain for “Lifesavers” in the American Cancer Society Relay for Life. My team and I have helped raise over $7,000 taking Bronze this last year in helping cancer victims and working toward a cure. My passion and dedication for this cause started when my mother-in-law was diagnosed with the disease and is now in remission.
For the past six years I have dedicated my extra time and energy to the children in this community by serving on the Board of Greenwood Elementary PTA. As a current PTA President, I continue my dedication to stay involved in my children’s school activities, stay involved in the community and be able to give money back for the needs of the school.
Who is your current employer? How long have you worked for them?
As stated before, I work for American Medical Response (AMR). I have worked for this company a little less than a year. I am the Account Executive for Business Development, my focus is on maintaining current and new relationships while looking for opportunities for growth. I am also responsible for organizing community outreach programs, educating facility and staff members on customer service training/skills and developing a local marketing committee in the medical field.
List all the companies or organizations you have been employed by for the past 10 years.
My experience in the last two years has been in the medical field, working for Life Line Screening, where I educated seniors, civic organizations and church groups on their vascular system and scheduled community vascular screenings in Missouri and Kansas.
My experience for the remaining years has been in sales and marketing, working primarily in the promotional product industry and marketing companies, they include: CAM, Inc, Builders Publishing Company and American Identity.
What companies or businesses do you own or hold a greater than 20% stake in?
None
On what corporate boards have you served?
None, only civic- serving our children of this community on Greenwood PTA Board
What is your educational background?
I received my Associates in Arts Degree from Longview Community College and spent the next four years at Avila University pursuing Elementary Education and Communication degrees.
What current or past political organizations do or have you belong(ed) to?
None
Are you associated with any of the current or past Aldermen or Mayors of Greenwood?
No
What is your management style?
My management style is more of a focus on teamwork. Teams can tackle problems more quickly with than what I can get accomplished on my own. Of course this is a give-and-take tactic, where equal effort and solid communication are the only way to make it successful.
Do you practice forgiveness in your everyday life? How?
Of course, I always ask and look for guidance on a regular basis. My church of choice is Abundant Life Church in Lee’s Summit. I thoroughly enjoy listening to Pastor Phil’s sermons as they bring light to real life circumstances.
How do you deal with personality conflicts or with conflict in general?
The ability to recognize different personalities and how to work with them is key. In my line of work, I educate our employees and facility staff on how to work with different personalities to prevent conflict. Using my “teamwork management style” it is important to use each personality and their talents to get all necessary tasks covered. Differences will play out in interactions however the new BOA will use this opportunity to blend their ideas together. Basically, agree to disagree and focus on the task at hand utilizing open communication and listening skills.
What are your professional qualifications for the office you seek?
I am a leader, a professional, an educator and most importantly able to work with and recognize different personalities to build strong relationships. My effective communication skills and focus on building relationships will help me be a strong Mayor in uniting our community and city relationships.
What is your agenda/platform?
In order to tackle my platform the first and foremost task is having a solid BOA that work closely together for the community not on personal agendas. Secondly, look at the current financial situation to assess the debt and planning for the future.
My platform focus:
- Strengthen/Build the Economic Development Committee to bring in more retail businesses and work closely with the BOA
- Continue resolutions on concerns of commercial vehicles utilizing residential streets
- Hire City Administrator
- Upgrade and improve city roads/streets
- Storm water flood abatement on Sewer and Water drainage ditch
- Support of the Lee’s Summit R7 Bond Issue www.leesummit.k12.mo.us
- Focus on the Katy Trail & Regional Mass Transit Programs
- Addition’s to Hitt/Freedom Park- upgrade basketball court, skate park, walking/riding track
- More organized community events
- Build community center- (city run) will include:
- Senior center
- Baseball batting cages
- Soccer/basketball court
- Workout area, game center
- Swimming pool
- Walking track
What do you think the biggest challenge Greenwood faces is?
Bringing the community together and really focusing on the economic development that can strategize a comprehensive plan to generate more sales tax revenue.
What do you think our city’s focus should be for the next two years?
- Financial stability by bringing in retail that offers goods and services -Economic Development
- Continue working with the BOA on upgrades and improvements on city streets already in the Comprehensive Improvement Plan
- Storm water flood abatement on Sewer and Water drainage ditch- if not resolved by current BOA
What are your top three priorities, goals to see accomplished if you are elected to office?
See above- however, if these three are tackled I would as well like to focus my efforts on a Community Center, the Katy Trail and offering more community events to bring this community together.
Of those three priorities – what is your #1 priority for 2010?
The Economic Development
Like the National Economy, our City economy has faltered; what plans do you have to make Greenwood thrive again?
Again, focus on bringing more retail to offer goods and services to our community so we will have a tax base. I would love to see more businesses that compliment the current businesses like more boutique type stores- clothing, art, bookstore, ice cream/coffee shops and grocery store.
What tough budget decisions do you feel need to be made in order to keep Greenwood running on a positive budget with the income the city currently has (not counting the jury award of 11.9 million)?
The budget decisions will come in time once we have the new BOA and a solid look at the current financial situation. We as a board and with citizen involvement can come up with a plan to address the financial situation.
What plans do you have to bring new business into Greenwood?
Strengthen and reform a new Economic Development Board with Greenwood citizens with real world business experience- current business owners and retired businessmen/businesswomen who can strategize a comprehensive plan, network with corporate and individual entrepreneurs to make it happen. This committee would work closely with the BOA as a team to make this community thrive.
What types of businesses would you like to see in Greenwood?
As stated above- I would love to see more businesses that compliment the current businesses like more boutique type stores- clothing, art, bookstore, ice cream/coffee shops and grocery store.
What plans do you have to make our city safer?
I would work closely with the police chief to continue the sense of safety in our community with increased police presence. I know in the past several neighborhood crime watch programs were started and would encourage them to continue and thrive.
What resolution would you like to see to the issue of the Quarry and it’s traffic and the use of our city streets?
The city won the resolution with the State litigation and lost with the Federal, as this will be an ongoing issue the current BOA is addressing and a battle for the upcoming BOA. My concern is to prevent these commercial vehicles onto our residential streets for the safety of our children, families and our streets.
What plans do you have to address the storm water issues our city is still facing or do you feel that the current plans are addressing those issues?
As stated before-this issue is currently being addressed with the BOA and I will continue the support to get it resolved.
What do you propose to do with the parking issue or parking ordinance here in Greenwood?
The parking ordinance needs to be fair for all residents and should be addressed to the citizens before passing. The BOA needs to work closely with the citizens to get a resolution as there are parking problems throughout our community.
What other improvements would you like to see in our community?
As stated before- I would like to focus my efforts on a Community Center, the Katy Trail and offering more community events to bring this community together. More community events, such as: movie night in the park, festivals/fairs in the park, St. Patrick’s Day Parade, etc.
Now that the appeals process is done and the city has been awarded the $11.9 million, what would you like to do with that money?
When the awarded funds have been released to the city and legal fees as well as Federal litigation has been addressed, then the BOA and the citizens can work together to address our current financial situation and appropriate expenditure plans.
What is your opinion of the current political situation in Greenwood?
The city has been split and going in different directions making it difficult to come to any resolutions. My focus is to have a solid BOA that can work together to focus on the issues at hand and work together to come up with resolutions and the importance of bringing this community together.
What do you propose to improve the atmosphere at City Hall or how are you going to bring Greenwood together politically?
In order for the BOA to come together to make a change in our community, we must respect each other, agree to disagree with each other, listen to new ideas, communicate effectively, understand our differences and all understand we are in this for one reason…our community not ourselves.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
If elected Mayor, my passion and dedication towards the children of this community will be now pushed further into the outreach of uniting this community.
