Current two-year terms of office for two Village Board seats and our Columbia Council Representative expire on April 30, 2016. Four nomination petitions were received for the Village Board seats from Alicia Kong, Joel Hurewitz, Jim Smith, and Robin Procida. Two nomination petitions were received for the Columbia Council Representative seat from Robert Fontaine and Alan Klein. The terms of office for the those elected will be May 1, 2016 through April 30, 2018. Village elections will take place Saturday, April 30 from 9am-3pm at Kahler Hall.
Candidate statements of the nominees for Columbia Council Representative:
Bob Fontaine
Columbia’s long-term needs must be addressed pragmatically. We can and should embrace the town’s history and values while recognizing that the times and our economy have changed. Yesterday’s solutions will not work today or tomorrow.
I am a government attorney and advise state boards and agencies. I am familiar with large budgets. I believe the CA Board should provide oversight rather than micro-managing CA staff, and should make decisions that will foster a better Columbia for all, now and in the future.
I moved into Harper’s Choice in 1988 and I’ve lived in all its neighborhoods. My kids went to local schools. My in-laws moved to Longfellow in 1968 and still live here.
I currently serve as the Chair of the Harper’s Choice Village Board. Please support my candidacy for the CA Board of Directors/Columbia Council.
Visit my Facebook page (“Bob Fontaine for Harper’s Choice”): https://www.facebook.com/Bob-Fontaine-for-Harpers-Choice-265769213597664/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel
Alan Klein
Jim Rouse created Columbia based on principles of social and economic justice. CA is the organization best positioned to provide leadership around those principles. Since 2014, I have been privileged to represent you on the CA Board. While much has been accomplished, much remains to be done.
CA has placed too much emphasis on its own corporate interests rather than those of residents. I have worked hard to increase transparency, be more responsible with our assessment dollars, and ensure that we make decisions that are in Columbia’s best interests, not just CA’s.
Returning Symphony Woods to CA control is a top priority.
My advocacy for you has sometimes been met with resistance. Changing the status quo is not easy. Please support me as your CA rep so we can continue to work together to protect our precious open space and recreational facilities and further the vision and values of Columbia.
Candidate statements of the nominees for Village Board:
Alicia Kong
Thank you for allowing me to represent you on the village board of Harpers Choice from 2010. I really enjoy see the improvements in our community. My focus is keeping Harper Choice Village safe, full of actives and residents fully informed. I want to be your voice on the HC Village Board for another two years. My daughter and I have moved to Longfellow 11 years ago. We enjoyed all the great actives the Columbia has to offer and wanted everyone to enjoy them too.
Joel Hurewitz
Joel Hurewitz has lived in Columbia since 2003 and in Harper’s Choice since 2008. Joel regularly attends CA and community meetings. Joel succeeded in getting the support of the Village Boards in Harper’s Choice and Wilde Lake to request that the Board of Elections make voting locations more convenient. Currently, many Harper’s Choice residents vote in Wilde Lake and River Hill. After observing the confusion the crosswalk near the Harper’s Choice Middle School caused many people at a Columbia Bike About, Joel succeeded in having Howard County repaint it. To increase parking availability near the Athletic Club, Joel believes that the County should paint parking spaces on Beaverkill Road and consider angled parking too. CA recently announced the plan to replace the community signs in Columbia beginning with Harper’s Choice; the Board will be participating in the process, and Joel has several ideas to incorporate into their design.
Jim Smith
I am a veteran of the United States Army who served two tours in Iraq in 2003 and 2004. After my honorable discharge in 2005, I went on to obtain a Master of Science Degree in Management and Public Relations from the University of Maryland University College. I worked at the White House from 2005-2010 as an audiovisual lead for both President George W. Bush, and President Barack Obama. I currently work for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, where I work in the Office of Communication. My wife Rebecca and I have been married for 12 years, and we have an 8-year-old son name Charlie. We are active in Cub Scouts, and I am the Committee Chair of Cub Scout Pack 61 out of Harpers Choice and Longfellow Elementary. We also have 3 dogs, Roxie (Chihuahua), Violet (Beagle mix) and Franklin (Dachshund).
Robin Procida
I am running for reelection because after chairing the two most recent community meetings in my time on the board I feel there is too much left undone to stop now.
We need to continue to put pressure on Kimco, CA, the police and our community leaders to improve our Village Center so that the residents of Harper’s Choice will once again feel safe and comfortable shopping there. We also need Kimco to make an effort to bring in more desirable stores.
We have made some strides but so much more needs to be done. I hope you will vote for me so I can continue my commitment to this endeavor.
Kommentarer