CharMeckVotes.org

Susan Burgess – Mayor Pro-Tem City Council At-Large (D)

Website URL: http://www.susanburgess.org

E-mail: susan@susanburgess.org

Phone Number: 704-333-2874

Current Occupation: 704-333-2874

Education–Highest Degree: Master of Public Health (MPH)

Please share with us a short personal/professional biography:

A WV native, I am married to my high school sweetheart, Patrick Burgess MD-PhD. Parents of 4 and grandparents of 6. Education: BS in Health Science with highest honors and MPH from UAB After living in Princeton, NJ, Miami, and Birmingham, chose Charlotte as the city to raise our four children in 1982. I served on the Board of Education 1990-97, as chair 1995-97. Elected to City Council at Large in 1999, Mayor Pro Tem for 6 years. I chair the Council’s Housing and Neighborhood Development Committee and serve on Transportation, Environment, Government Affairs committees. I am on the Board of Trustees for the National Housing Conference and am the Transportation for America Municipal Elected Officials Representative. I am past president of the NC League of Municipalities, served on the Board of the National League of Cities, currently President of Women in Municipal Government nationwide. I served as chair of the National Democratic Municipal Officials Conference and on the Executive Committee of the DNC. I was formerly on the staff of Covenant Presbyterian Church, am an ordained elder, and chaired the Division of Missions of the Session. I am part owner of a family owned business, MD Scientific

Three (3) most important organizations you belong to:

- Covenant Presbyterian Church -elder
- Rotary Club of Charlotte South-Past President
- Sierra Club

Three (3) most important political/civic accomplishments in the last five (5) years:

Several iniatives as Chair of the Council’s Housing and Neighborhood Development Committee:

Strengthened sign ordinance to control illegal signs in the city’s right away and utility poles

Housing Charlotte 2007 conference which has brought focus on major issues related to issues as affordable housing location and homelessness

Strengthened Code Enforcement by hiring more inspectors and cross training other city personnel to monitor/report violators

Strengthened the Police services by holding Town Hall Meeting with CMPD to help Charlotteans learn what they do in their homes and neighborhoods. Fought hard /successfully in our budgeting to hire more police officers

As 2008-09 president of the NC League of Municipalities, initiated Green City Challenge to assist all NC cities to become more “green” in city operations. Seventy four cities received recognition for efforts. Involved in transportation issues on national level as local elected official liaison for Transportation for America and NLC transportation steering committee

Why are you running for the office of your choice?

I seek re-election to continue building on the knowledge and experience I have gained through extensive participation in the last 8 years. Having experience at the table is crucial in these unprecedented challenging times. I have worked tirelessly to represent all people of Charlotte and balance resources to all parts of our city. People tell me that I have common sense, that I am responsive, fair, prepared and independent. I love our city and want to work together with business, voluntary, neighborhood, and faith community leaders to continue the progress we have made. Charlotte has been hit hard by job losses, and we need to re-frame our economy somewhat to attract jobs in energy/ environment, biotech, and other high growth sectors while building on our current base. I fully appreciate that the City doesn’t “create jobs” but we must maintain affordable taxes and the quality of life to attract/retain jobs.

What makes you the most qualified candidate?

Experience and deep knowledge of municipal issues gained by hard work on the Council for the past eight years. I have worked to keep property taxes as low as possible while providing solid services our citizens have come to expect. I look for efficiencies in every operation. I often challenge spending proposals, like buying an uptown building 3 properties from the square for CATS headquarters, which I blocked. I have learned from participation in state and national groups. I am on the Board of Trustees of the National Housing Conference and serve as local government representative for Transportation for America, both advocacy organizations for federal funding for housing and road/ transit. I am on the National League of Cities Transportation Steering committee and a former NLC Board member. I am the immediate past president of the NC League of Municipalities, working closely with the General Assemby on city issues. I know and am known to decision makersboth elected and administrative in both Raleigh and Washington and communicate frequently on Charlotte’s behalf. I have a passion to serve the people of Charlotte!

In this challenging economy, if elected, what do you see as your role in improving the quality of life in Charlotte for all its residents?

The City Council’s role in this economy is to protect the quality of life that attracted new business growth to begin with. That includes affordability of housing, low taxes, healthy environment, adequate roads/bikeways/sidewalks, user-friendly transit system, vibrant cultural life, beautiful neighborhoods, low crime rate, and center city attractiveness. My role as a Council Member is to work to maintain and improve all of these. I am especially committed to supporting Chief Monroe so that he can continue to lead a department that has been successful in reducing both violent and property crime. He believes, as I do, that crime prevention requires a real partnership with citizens and neighborhoods.

What role do you see residents playing in improving the quality of life in Charlotte?

Residents have a vital role in improving the quality of life in Charlotte. To protect our environment, drive less, carpool, walk more and pick up litter, combine errands, conserve water , plant indigenous plants that don’t require as much watering, bike, recycle. To reduce crime, report suspicious persons, meet your community police officers. Stop deliveries while traveling. Join your neighborhood association and participate. Organize a block party. Attend National Night Out. Report code violations. Learn to use 311. Attend Community University. Volunteer to mentor a youth, help the homeless, adopt a street. Join a civic group and a church/synagogue or other place of worship. Check on your elderly neighbors. Vote. Get to know your elected officials, local, state, and federal, and let them know what’s on your mind. Attend a concert, play, museum and support our arts and cultural organizations. Go do a gallery crawl in NoDa. Try tomato sandwiches and sweet tea. Poke around Thomas Avenue. Support local businesses. Support your friends who are job searching. Enjoy our city, it’s a great place to live!