Chris Seagraves: Write-In Candidate for Alderman Ward 2, Greenwood Mo
Posted by jennW in Featured, GSD Online
Our next candidate questionnaire has been submitted by Chris Seagraves, write-in candidate for Alderman, Ward 2. He is running against Mark Dziedzic and Alex Fellows.
How long have you lived in Greenwood?
We have lived in Greenwood a little less than 10 years. We lived over in Rolling Meadows, for a few years. After losing all the wiffle balls in the neighbors’ yards we decided we needed more space. We wanted to stay in Greenwood so we bought the place on Allendale Lake.
Are you married? Do you have children, grandchildren, where do they attend school?
I am married to my best friend – Shelly. We have two amazing boys. Christopher is 12 and is a 7th grader at Summit Lakes Middle School, Seth is 10 and is a 5th grader at Greenwood Elementary.
What religious and civic organizations do you belong to?
I am an active member of the Raytown and Lee’s Summit Chambers of Commerce. I co-own a very successful networking group in Lee’s Summit named Circle of Influence.
I am a committed member of the Greenwood PTA.
What charities, causes or civic organizations do you support with finances or service?
Every year Seth and I ride the Bikers for Babies ride to help raise money and awareness for the March of Dimes. Our whole family walks in the Relay for Life in support of the American Cancer Society; we support Retired Greyhounds as Pets (REGAP), Greenwood, Raytown, and the Lee’s Summit Youth Sports Associations. I am a member of Harley Owners Group (HOG) and just joined the Kansas City Dog Advocates Group.
Who is your current employer? How long have you worked for them?
I have worked as General Manager of Boan Heating and Cooling now for 10 years. We are one of the top HVAC replacement companies in Kansas City.
List all the companies or organizations you have been employed by for the past 10 years.
For the past ten years, I have worked for Boan Heating and Cooling. Before that I worked for Southwest Airlines as a Ground Operations Supervisor.
What companies or businesses do you own or hold a greater than 20% stake in?
I own 50% of Circle of Influence. .
On what corporate boards have you served?
None
What is your educational background?
I have a Bachelor’s of Science in Aviation Technology from the University of Central Missouri.
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?
Vic Robles is my neighbor and he is a past Alderman for the City.
What is your management style?
Even a group of leaders needs a leader. Everyone needs to be heard. Listen, analyze, listen some more. Identify the issues, predict the outcome, decide course of action, execute the plan.
Do you practice forgiveness in your everyday life? How?
Absolutely, life is too short to go to bed angry. Everyone has their differences, that’s ok, however, we still need to be able to get along with each other. Sometimes it’s important to agree to disagree…civility is imperative.
How do you deal with personality conflicts or with conflict in general?
Acknowledge the conflict. Address the issues. Agree to disagree if a resolution cannot be found. All while maintaining mutual respect.
What are your professional qualifications for the office you seek?
I have had several jobs where I’ve been fortunate enough to lead and work alongside hard working people. As a manager/supervisor you have no choice but to gain people skills which I believe is a vital qualification for the office I seek.
I am a dad, I run a successful small business, and have been a volunteer for youth sports for the last 10 years. In these activities, I’ve been able to enhance my people, organizational, and management skills.
What is your agenda/platform?
We need to create more of a sense of community in our town. I would like to create more community events all throughout the year; this is how suggestions and comments and friendships get started. We need more year-round participation from the residents of Greenwood.
I would also like to create more revenue for the city in the form of encouraging growth and use of current business and inviting new small businesses.
What do you think the biggest challenge Greenwood faces is?
I want to say it’s lack of revenue, but I haven’t seen the checkbook. What we really need to do is change the perception of our community. The city officials need to be able to work together for Greenwood. Rather than Greenwood being just somewhere we park our cars and sleep at night we can encourage a sense of community by providing local entertainment, dining and business alternatives for the residents of Greenwood.
What do you think our city’s focus should be for the next two years?
We need to immediately get the board together on somewhat of the same page making sure we have close to the same vision for the city. It’s vital to establish a list of priorities for the city and ensure that the BOA works together as a team to accomplish them.
What are your top three priorities, goals to see accomplished if you are elected to office?
My priorities will be determined by the residents of Greenwood, not by me or any past or present board member.
- Move board meetings to a larger venue so we can get more community participation, thus getting more people involved. By increasing the size of the venue, it will enable us to help determine what the residents of Greenwood want to see as progress.
- The deterioration of our street and thoroughfares need to be addressed
- We need to create more community events.
Of those three priorities – what is your #1 priority for 2010?
Get more people involved to determine what the residents of Greenwood would like to see as the future for their community
Like the National Economy, our City economy has faltered; what plans do you have to make Greenwood thrive again?
We need to get more revenue without raising taxes. We need to invite not only small businesses but business as a whole. We need to create a buy local, buy Greenwood campaign. Investigate options that allow Greenwood to collect revenue from the surrounding businesses that utilize our streets.
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)?
I don’t think anyone can make these decisions without looking at expenditures. However, we can review traffic violation revenues, we could issue on-street parking permits, we could have volunteers handle light maintenance and yard-work (such as an Adopt-a-Street program) rather than contracting it out.
What plans do you have to bring new business into Greenwood?
Meet with planning and zoning to see what option we have available. Review the current process with the EDC and require monthly reports and follow ups.
It’s important to perform a market study in Greenwood to see what types of businesses the residents feel they would utilize.
What types of businesses would you like to see in Greenwood?
After the completion of a market study, it will be easier to determine what the residents of Greenwood would like to see. I personally would like to see small retail, like a neighborhood drug store that has a cafe or diner next to, or in it.
What plans do you have to make our city safer?
Create a positive police image and increase overall police presence, encourage and facilitate neighborhood crime watch programs.
What resolution would you like to see to the issue of the Quarry and its traffic and the use of our city streets?
I think we all agree that we would like to see all heavy trucks go around Greenwood rather than through it. This is not an easily resolved issue and will require more research.
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?
This issue is being taking care of and I support the current board’s recommendations.
What do you propose to do with the parking issue or parking ordinance here in Greenwood?
There should be a limit to on street parking, especially on our residential streets. In an effort to raise revenue and awareness, we could issue yearly permits. There will always be exceptions for non-residents, etc. We don’t need to eliminate the on-street parking just raise the awareness.
What other improvements would you like to see in our community?
I would like to see more community wide activities like the 4th of July celebration. We should encourage and support small businesses, such as the antique shops, more. There’s no reason why the city couldn’t have a co-ed sports league or something like that. Or a parade on opening day for the Greenwood Sports Association. Elderly outreach program, and some sort of community fitness/awareness program. It would be nice if someone were to organize a walk or jog around Greenwood in the evening or something of that nature.
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?
We need to lookout for what is in the best interest of Greenwood’s future. With that being said, we need to see what Greenwood wants done. We cannot count on that money until we have it in the bank.
What is your opinion of the current political situation in Greenwood?
Too many people are fighting for what “they want”, instead of what the community needs. We should be working together to do what is best for our community. I am embarrassed by our political situation. We need to run our city more like a business. You’ve got to be able to get along to get a job done. In the real world, you’re as good as your weakest link. Pull together, work together, build a community together.
What do you propose to improve the atmosphere at City Hall or how are you going to bring Greenwood together politically?
We need to encourage and motivate the different committees and staff members.
Since we don’t run under party platforms, we shouldn’t be held to the same in-fighting that plagues both the state and national politics scene. I think that changing city government here will be a positive step to encourage new ideas. I hope that the community will cast their vote for someone who shares their interests in the community.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I want to do what’s best for Greenwood. I don’t feel I’m running against anyone, rather I am running for the residents Greenwood. Go to www.Seagraves4Greenwood.info and submit your suggestions.
