Bristol, Tenn. City Council Candidate: Margaret Feierabend

Margaret Feierabend

  Age:   57

  Address: 208 Lovedale Dr.  Bristol Tenn.,  37620

  Daytime telephone number: 423-764-3336

  Evening phone number: 423-764-3336

  E-mail address:    

  Campaign Web site:  http://www.margaretfeierabend.net

  Party affiliation:   None listed; this is a non-partisan election.

  Office you are seeking: City Council South District

  Please answer the following questions about your background:

What is your educational background, including the highest degree you attained (high school, college, advanced degree) and the year it was attained?

I have a M.Ed. in Community Health Education, 1978 University of North Carolina, Greensboro.  Undergraduate from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge in English.  I continue to attend various conferences, workshops and classes on different topics.

  What is your professional background, including your present employer and job description? What other positions have you held in the past? If you are retired, please describe your most recent employment.

I work with several nonprofits as a volunteer or unpaid worker.  I use my health education background and skills in several of the organizations.  I occasionally contract to facilitate planning processes.

  Are you married? If so, please list your spouse’s name. occupation and any elected offices they hold or have held in the past.

Robin (Raymond) and I have recently celebrated our 34th anniversary.  Robin works with ETSU Family Practice Residency program here in Bristol.  We lived in Dungannon, Va., for four years, 1978 to 1982 where he served a term on the town council.

  Do you have children? If so, how many and what are their ages?

Our children are:
Karl, almost 30, married to Kristin Ann; Neal, almost 27, and Kristin Elise, almost 23.
  Do you presently hold an elected or appointed office or have you held one in the past? Please list all elected or appointed posts and the years you were in office.
Elected to City Council—2005
Lost seat on City Council—2001
Re-elected to City Council – 1997
Elected to City Council—1995
Appointed to City Council—1994

Served as Vice Mayor - 1996-97, 1998-99
Served as Mayor - 1997-98
Currently I am serving as city representative to:
Library Board – Program Chair, helping with five subcommittees
Convention and Visitors Bureau
Train Station Operating Board – Secretary
School Board
Sullivan County Commission meeting
In the past I served on the Planning Commission and Viking Hall Board of Control and the Sullivan County Beltway Task Force, the Sullivan County Smart Growth committee.  I served on the National League of Cities FAIR committee, on Tennessee Municipal League board of directors as District 1 Director.

Have you ever been an officer in a political party, worked in a campaign or been a delegate to a political convention? If yes, please provide details and names of the candidates for whom you worked.

City council elections are non-partisan.  I have participated in elections and campaigns in various ways—contributions, volunteering, etc.  I choose the individual person to support from reviewing their stands on issues that are important to me.

How long have you lived in the area? If you have lived elsewhere, where have you lived and for how long?

We have lived in Bristol for 27 years and in the area for 31 (Dungannon, VA for 4 years).  Robin did his family practice training in Greensboro, NC for 3 years, and both of us grew up in Louisiana, primarily in Baton Rouge and New Orleans (Robin).

Who are your three biggest campaign contributors? How much money have you raised in your campaign? Have you taken any special interest or PAC money? How much money do you expect to spend in your campaign?

My campaign contributors are for $100 or less except for 2 contributions at $200, from myself and Soni Schermer. I appreciate all who have contributed to my campaign with donations or with funding.  I have raised about $3000.  I have not taken any special interest or PAC money.  I expect to do one mailing.  My campaign reports will be on my website.  Any money not spent will be given to a nonprofit.

Do you volunteer your time or give money to local causes? If so, please list them.

My husband and I contribute and support many local organizations and causes.  I have only listed a few of the ones that we volunteer with and/or contribute to financially.

Bristol’s Promise - Youth Networking Alliance
Bristol Area Youth Council
Bristol Youth Leadership
Sullivan County Health Council
REACH! Regional Education and Action Coalition for Health
Appalachian Sustainable Development
Celebrate Bristol
Concerned Citizens for Responsible Growth
Chamber of Commerce Business and Education Task Force
Believe in Bristol
Friends of Steele Creek Nature Center and Park
Healing Hands

Have you ever been convicted of a misdemeanor or felony crime as an adult? If yes, please give jurisdiction and details.
No

Have you ever filed bankruptcy? If yes, please explain.
No

Have you ever served in the military? If yes, please provide details, including branch of service, highest rank, years of service and date and terms of discharge.
No

Have you or your business ever been the subject of a lawsuit, lien or foreclosure? If yes, please explain.
No

What ties do you have to any business or organization that could profit from action as a city council member? Please explain your plan to avoid even the appearance of conflict of interest.

I participate in several nonprofit organizations. If there were to be such decisions to be made that would benefit a nonprofit that I was involved with, I would explain my relationship and if appropriate, abstain from the vote.

Do you have personal or business relationships with other council members that might cause a conflict of interest?

None

Please answer the following questions about issues facing the city.
What makes you the best candidate for city council?

The qualities for the best candidate for city council include having a broad range of interests and knowledge, ability to learn things quickly, ability to listen, having values that include honesty, integrity and fairness, and having the courage to face controversial issues and to take stands.  I believe that I have these qualities.  I believe that my 2005-09 term has had a positive effect on our community.  I would be pleased to continue to serve the Bristol community actively supporting:
• more citizen participation
• preservation of our historical, cultural and natural assets
• our children and youth
• jobs and economic development
• the things that make communities and the people in them healthy.

What is the best thing about Bristol, Tenn.? What is the worst thing?

The best thing about Bristol is that we are working together as a community.  We are proud of our heritage, proud of the Birthplace of Country Music culture, Rhythm and Roots, proud of our dual community and State Line down the middle, and proud of the world’s fastest half mile track!  The worst thing is that it has taken us a long time to reach this point of knowing and being proud of who we are.

Bristol Exide is cutting its workforce by 567 people and other large employers have had large layoffs. What will you do as a council member to attract more employers to Bristol that will bring better paying jobs?

I have addressed most of these issues below with under the section on what I have done personally to increase jobs. These are tough, tough times.  Bristol has seen tough times with closures in the past.  Research shows that 80-85% of job creation comes with the expansion of existing business.  Bristol has always had a lot of small businesses and entrepreneurs.  We have put in place supports for this economic development area and need to strengthen this area further for developing a sustainable future.  I have challenged and will continue to challenge city council to develop a strategic and action plan to move forward in the area of economic and job development.

Quality of life areas—our education system, our parks, our downtown, recreational opportunities, etc. are things that attract employers with higher paying jobs.  I have actively supported and will continue to support quality of life issues.

Bristol, Tenn., has had two property tax increases to fund school construction and is considering another 8 cent increase. This would be the third increase in three years. Should the city make other budget cuts to offset these increases? If so, what should they include?
Again, these are tough times.  Our budget this year is very lean.  Some capitol budget items are being delayed for better times. 
The property increases passed and designated for Fairmont school replacement were long overdue and from citizen input, well-received. 

Our city government operates with fiscal conservatism.  We continue to have a low debt ratio.  Excellent services are provided for water, sewer, garbage pickup.  I will not support any tax increase without extensive evaluation of all revenues and expenses and opportunity for citizen input and comment.

For incumbents: What have you personally done to increase the number of jobs in Bristol?

Increasing the number of jobs, and quality jobs, is not an easy task.  It has to be approached from many angles.  Quality of life issues are huge in attracting jobs to our area and in maintaining the businesses that we have here.  I actively participate in the following that help to achieve these goals include:

Education:  I serve as a liaison with the school board, working with the Chamber of Commerce’s Business and Education Task force, serving on the Library board and helping begin a process to help the Literacy Academy meet the growing demands on services for job skill development.  I work with Bristol’s Promise:  Youth Networking Alliance, bringing the community together to coordinate the work that we do with children and youth.  America’s Promise provides data and information for helping children and youth becoming successful, caring, responsible adults. 

School facilities: Our community supports good facilities to provide a strong education to our students.  Strong schools and good buildings are number one in attracting new jobs and retaining business that we have—people looking for an education system for their families as well as looking for a work force prepared to do the jobs. 

Economic development:  I support the city’s efforts including dedicating staff to the efforts, making development regulations user friendly, developing partnerships such as with Sullivan County Networks, and I continue to actively push for strategic planning in this and other areas.  During the time I have served we approved a re-development plan and identified areas and criteria for Tax Increment Financing which provide development incentives.

Believe in Bristol Main Street Program:  Downtown is the heart of our community and supports a local economy.  BIB committee chair Lorrie McGovern at King College has helped to develop the Business Resource Center, a ‘one-stop shopping’ resource for entrepreneurs and small business folks administered through the Chamber of Commerce (check the website).  BIB also reports annually the effect it has on job creation, which has been positive. 

Tourism:  If we love our community where we live, work and play, others will too—I support the development of tourism for our community and region (serving on the Convention and Visitors Bureau).  Heritage tourism, which we have and have more opportunities to develop, creates higher paying jobs and longer staying guests.  I volunteer with Rhythm & Roots Reunion and recognize that our young people are very excited about this event and proud of our community.

Environment:  As vice president of Appalachian Sustainable Development which supports local agricultural and local food jobs and careers, I see future possibilities with the growing trends of local foods and economies.  We must continue to ‘green’ our economy with things like participation in the Chamber’s ‘Green Team’ program and other energy saving, cost cutting programs.  Being ‘green’ is a quality of life issue that we will be measured by for people looking to come or stay in this area.
Health:  The state of Tennessee and our area in particular are not doing well in the area of health.  We are in a crisis of inactivity, overweight and obesity.  Health is an economic development and employer issue.  How we design and build our communities, our community’s values and culture play significant roles in our health.  Serving on city council gives me a forum to bring these issues for discussion and for action.

Aside from school construction, what other capital improvement projects in the city are important to you and how will you fund them?

School construction will continue with Vance next on the list, and improvements at other schools.  With school leadership energy saving improvements that will pay for themselves, save money and create a better learning environment can be undertaken.
We have regular capital projects with purchase of safety vehicles, and other maintenance and improvements that are necessary in maintaining the functionality and integrity of our city.

Involving the community is key to nurturing and developing partnerships to accomplish big and costly projects.  We have a Police Academy, and recently have improved the city website, held the first Citizens Municipal Academy, increased the opportunities for citizen input during council meetings, and begun televised Council meetings.  I have actively supported these initiatives but feel that the city can do a better job of involving citizens,  identifying and developing community partnerships.

Critical to our community is the continued development of the Birthplace of Country Music Heritage Center.  We need to come together with the BCMA and move this project forward despite the tough times.

Our downtown has progressed and we are very proud of where we come together as a community.  We will have some further investments in our downtown.  Some of those can be accomplished through community partnerships.

We are blessed with the vision and actions of our forbearers who established Steele Creek Park.  For 10 or more years the plan has been to expand the Nature Center, built originally by City employees using downed wood from the surrounding forests, to provide better facilities to serve the public and our schools.  Finally we are moving forward with the planning to get this project done.  This project can be accomplished with support from the public, our business and corporate community and Friends of Steele Creek Nature Center and Park.

Thank you for this opportunity to share some of my opinions and positions.