Bryton Community Residents Wanted the 411 and invited all Huntersville Candidates to the Party!

I had the pleasure to join many of the residents in the Bryton Community for their September Block Party. Many thanks to Brenda and the HOA Committee for inviting all the candidates to the party. I wish I could meet with all the neighborhoods like that! Huntersville is still a small community at heart and events like this remind me how much we have in common with one another. Refreshing! ~LaToya

1. What have you done or will you do to invest in and revitalize Downtown Huntersville?

I grew up here, and I want our downtown to be the heartbeat of Huntersville, not just a pass-through between Charlotte and Lake Norman. We’ve already invested in Town Hall, purchased the Cashions property, approved Holbrooks Phase 2, and supported projects that bring restaurants and retail downtown. But revitalization must be more than construction, it’s about creating spaces where families gather, where small businesses can thrive, and where longtime residents aren’t pushed out, and the downtown area becomes vibrant and attracts visitors.

We’re fortunate to have anchors like Discovery Place Kids, our family-friendly brewery with food truck space, the pickleball courts, Veterans Park, and the walking trails. These are wonderful foundations. Now, we need to be intentional about tenant mix, actively collecting lists of businesses interested in downtown and identifying those that align with Huntersville’s character. We should encourage a healthy mix of activities, restaurants, galleries, and services so downtown is alive from morning to night, every day of the week. That means working with developers who understand our vision and making sure designs allow local small businesses to afford space. If we keep this balance, downtown Huntersville can become a true community hub, full of life and uniquely ours.

 

2. How have/would you improve Public Safety and operations?

Public safety is about about whether families feel safe where they live, walk, and work. Together, we’ve funded a full-time municipal Fire Department, added benefits for part-time firefighters, purchased new fire trucks, secured land for a new Fire Station #2, and started the design of Station #5. On the police side, we’ve funded 10 new officer positions, added SROs, raised pay to remain competitive, funded a space needs assessment, and hired civilian crash investigators.

But we can’t stop there. Public safety also depends on workforce housing, because when officers, firefighters, and teachers can afford to live in the community they serve, it strengthens trust and makes Huntersville safer. It also means keeping sidewalks, pedestrian passageways, and bikeways safe, and being serious about enforcing speed limits in our busiest areas. Safety is about response times, yes, but it’s also about everyday quality of life, making sure every neighbor feel protected.

3. What are your Town infrastructure priorities?

Huntersville has made real progress, issuing $25 million in voter-approved transportation bonds, $4 million in Parks & Recreation bonds, and investing in 30+ road and sidewalk projects, a greenway bridge, and new park planning. These are important, and now we need to be smart about our path forward. That means building where infrastructure already exists, so we’re not stretching resources thin or creating new problems while trying to solve others and driving up the cost of our growth.

Infrastructure should connect us: safe sidewalks to schools, greenways that link neighborhoods, and parks that give families spaces to gather. When done right, it supports small businesses, protects neighborhoods, and keeps our growth intentional rather than reactive.

4. Describe your efforts to advocate for attainable housing and Veterans Service.

Housing affordability is one of the top concerns I hear from neighbors. We’ve already funded $150,000 in two budget years, commissioned UNC’s housing development analysis, funded a land swap on North Church Street, and approved projects that include affordable units. But we must keep pushing a long-term agenda to ensure that working families, police, fire, schoolteachers, seniors, and young professionals can stay in Huntersville, and that longtime residents aren’t displaced as costs rise. The health of our community, especially our businesses, is dependent on this.

On veterans, I was proud to vote for the new Veterans Affairs office downtown. I will continue to fight for funding to sustain its operations year after year, and make sure we’re promoting it so that veterans actually know where to turn for services. My colleague Edwin Quarles is deeply focused on veterans, and I’ll continue to support his leadership as it relates to veterans. Collectively, we can all honor their service by ensuring Huntersville provides the support they deserve.

5. What communications initiatives have you championed?

I’ve always kept an open door (and e-mail) for residents, because communication is about trust. We’ve funded new communications staff, updated the town website, refreshed our branding, and launched a WSIC radio show. That’s progress, but I want to go further. I will continue to follow the work of our CIO and explore new ways to keep Huntersville informed.

I also believe in leveraging relationships with our largest employers, the Chamber, CPCC, public and private schools, charitable organizations, the county, and neighboring towns to help keep our community educated and connected. Communication isn’t just about pushing information out, it’s about building bridges, so people feel part of the process. I’ll keep expanding my reach in my next term to ensure residents feel informed and heard.

6. What is the town doing about environmental sustainability?

I’m proud that Huntersville started its first Environmental Sustainability Committee and is hiring a town arborist. I also want to acknowledge Commissioner Jennifer Hunt, who has been a driving force behind these initiatives. Supporting her work matters.

What has made our current board effective is that each of us has championed issues we’re truly passionate about on behalf of the residents we represent. That’s the spirit of collaboration I want to see continue. After all, this is a nonpartisan race. We may lean in different directions politically, but once elected, we’re here to represent all of Huntersville and I believe our residents care about preserving our green spaces, our trees, our parks, and making our city more walkable.

7. How does Huntersville’s tax rate compare to others across the state?

Huntersville is the 16th largest municipality in North Carolina and has the lowest tax rate among the top 25. We’ve held the line on fees for solid waste and vehicles, and we continue to attract businesses to balance the load on residents.

To keep taxes low while still funding services, we must grow smart.  That’s why I support small businesses and strengthening our local economy and making it attractive to visitors. When we do that, we relieve the burden on families and ensure Huntersville remains affordable.

8. What will you do to attract and cultivate small businesses within the town of Huntersville, especially in our downtown area?

Small businesses are the heartbeat of Huntersville, and many already give our downtown its unique flavor. From Discovery Place Kids to Slice House Pizza, Mama Mia’s, Craft 760, Foster’s Framing, The Hunter House, a local photographer, Crafty Beer, Main Street Tavern, and the American Legion each plays a role in creating what I call the “Huntersville Experience.” Some are long-standing, others are new, but together they show how small businesses make downtown vibrant.

To keep building on that, we need to make it easier for entrepreneurs to set up shop here, provide affordable spaces, and encourage mixed-use development that combines housing, retail, and walkability. Supporting local business isn’t just economic development, it’s about shaping a town identity that’s distinctly Huntersville, not a copy of Charlotte.

 

9. Is transparency an issue in our town’s government?

Honestly, I think Huntersville is more transparent than ever. Sometimes that transparency is most obvious when we disagree, but disagreement in the open is far better than decisions made in the dark. For me, there is no other way than to be open and honest, especially around difficult issues.

I remain committed to hearing all voices and making sure everyone, whether they agree with me or not, feels respected in the process. At the end of the day, my responsibility is to follow our laws and ordinances and to support initiatives that serve the greater good of this community and to choose the best timing for all of our endeavors.

10. Why are you running for office / How would you be an asset?

I don’t talk about my background much, but the reality is that I’ve dedicated my college education, undergraduate and graduate work, to understanding how government works, and I’ve built my career around making government operate efficiently for the people it serves. That’s more than passion, it’s preparation.

I’m running because Huntersville is my home. I grew up here, and I want families and businesses to be proud to call this town theirs. I’m not afraid to tell the truth, and I value collaboration because I know it gets results. My asset to this community is that I will continue to fight for smart growth, attainable housing, strong neighborhoods, and support for small businesses, while always protecting what makes Huntersville unique and separate from Charlotte.