My name is Gregory B. Garrison, but I am called "Greg" by friends and family.
I am running to be a candidate for Mayor of the Village of Worden, Illinois.
This is an overview of my goals in seeking this elected position.
My family's roots in the Village of Worden run deep. I have been married to Keena "Bridges" Garrison for 22 years, and we have been proud residents of the Village of Worden for 22 years, raising our daughter Lilly Garrison here, who attended the Village of Worden public schools.
Our family's involvement in the community spans generations, and we are deeply committed to the growth and development of the community.
My interests include restoring classic 1970s muscle cars. I enjoy discussing and sharing my progress on restoration projects, such as my 1970 Ford Mustang, 1972 Plymouth Duster or 1941 Studebaker Champion two-door coupe.
My upbringing in a family deeply rooted in the International Brotherhood of the Teamsters Union has instilled a set of values I hold dear. These values, which emphasize the importance of community and fairness, and guide my commitment to ensuring fair wages and benefits for employment services.
I have successfully held the Village of Worden trustee position for 12 years, being elected by community members. My experience as a Village Trustee has been instrumental in shaping my understanding of local governance. I have held this position for 12 consecutive years, being re-elected by the citizens for three terms and voicing my opinion on the village's future development. This experience has equipped me with the knowledge and skills to lead our community into a prosperous future.
As a village trustee, I was not the point of the spear offering direction in the role of Mayor; I believe the public trust in electing me for three consecutive terms as Village Trustee has prepared me to lead this community as the Village of Worden Mayor by providing practical guidance in growth and development.
I understand the pains associated with the development, the need to maintain green space, and the need to ensure that developers are held accountable for constructing the village board-approved plans for residential and commercial zoning guidelines to maintain home values.
A comprehensive plan for the Village of Worden indicates specific areas designated for single-family residential development, multiple-family apartment development and commercial development needs to be created and followed to prevent mixed development from affecting the village's future growth.
The Village of Worden has held the importance of small hometown values of neighbors working together to discuss problems. If elected to the position of Mayor for the Village of Worden, I will continue to recognize the importance of being available since I am retried to meet one-on-one with residents to hear their concerns involving the future growth of the Village. These issues include concerns about the proposed Cenergy Solar Projects' future development in the area of Possum Hill Rd and Bowles Street, Village of Worden.
Since the project is scheduled to be developed in the Madison County Zoning area of approval.
I was not personally involved in any discussions or had the opportunity to voice my concerns about this development project as a village trustee. I recognize the concerns about the development of solar projects, the potential devaluation of home values, and the potential environmental impact on adjoining property. I recognize the concern that the transparency of this solar project should have been more readily publicized with public meetings to allow residents to voice their concerns and possibly should have been placed on a special election to allow the decision to have been made by the residents of this community. If elected, I will not be able to block the development of this solar project.
Still, I am open to discussing a green space buffer area between homes in the Village of Worden and working with the Madison County government and requesting that this project or similar projects pose a potential environmental impact and that an insurance bonding be required to ensure that if an event does occur, residents of the Village of Worden be compensated and made financially whole to protect not only their property values, but their heritage connected to this community.
I maintain the vital importance of disclosure of prospective growth and development, that this information should be made available, and that an avenue should be made available for citizens to ask questions if they cannot attend board meetings and that answers be provided to those questions. This could be accomplished by embracing updated technology and the development of a Village of Worden website to post local ordinances, applications for residential and commercial development, Village
board meeting minutes, dates and times of scheduled meetings, which should be open to citizens to share opinions and create discussions that benefit everyone as a whole.
Not everyone will embrace each decision, but if elected mayor, I will base my decisions on the majority's views on what will best impact the community.
Suppose my values and views assist in your decision to elect me as Mayor of the Village of Worden. In that case, I will work towards the growth I have outlined in the development of our community, ensuring that our values and heritage are preserved and using the relationship I am hoping to create to allow me to discuss a second term as Mayor when we reach that crossroads in the future.
Thank you for your time in reading my views and goals to assist you in your decision to select the Mayor of the Village of Worden. I am available to meet in person to discuss these views if it would assist you in your decision.
Greg Garrison
Candidate for Mayor
Village of Worden
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