Leslie Waters Marital status: married 32 years to husband Al. Age: 61 Activities: Member, Seminole Chamber of Commerce; lifetime member, Seminole Historical Society; former co-chair Seminole Relay For Life; board member, Personal Enrichment through Mental Health Services; board member, Pinellas County Urban League; member, VFW-Auxilliary Post 4364; member, Central Pinellas Republican Club. Bio: Born and raised in Pinellas County; attended St. Petersburg Junior College and graduated from Florida State University with bachelor's and master's degrees; 29 years of corporate business experience with Allstate Insurance Co. in human resources, corporate relations, marketing and government relations management; Served eight years in the Florida House of Representatives (1998-2006) including two years as speaker pro-tempore. ; Served as chairwoman of the House Insurance and Transportation and Economic Development committees; after term limits forced her to step down, she formed a government relations consulting firm that lobbied Washington and Tallahassee interests. E-mail: leslie-waters@tampabay.rr.com Web site: http://www.waterswave.com/ How will your past experience be of benefit to the average resident of Seminole? WATERS: I would bring a vast business, community and legislative experience to City Council. My legislative and state government experience in dealing with infrastructure and budget issues, knowledge of insurance issues, including employee benefits, property and casualty and workers compensation may be of value. My knowledge and advocacy of hurricane preparedness will be of benefit. Also, I have decades of community activism and knowledge of working with nonprofit organizations. What strengths or skills would make you a positive addition to the City Council? WATERS: My strengths are listening, consensus building, availability, accessibility, great energy and enthusiasm. During this campaign I have walked to over 1,500 homes in an attempt to reintroduce myself and be available for input related to the city. I have also visited 50 businesses along Seminole Boulevard and other areas of the city. I am also a Supreme Court certified mediator so I always work toward consensus with dealing with difficult issues. How would you improve Seminole? WATERS: I will keep a close eye on the budget, oversee the rebuilding of four fire stations, assure that an Emergency Operations Center is built. I would encourage homeowners to hurricane-proof their homes and be conscious of hurricane preparedness, assure business corridors and future business construction meet approved architectural guidelines, continue current interest in the construction of a senior recreation center, work with city officials on a drainage master plan, have a major hand in the future redevelopment of the Seminole Mall and to help find a permanent home for the Seminole Historical Society, as well as have open and frequent communication with citizens. Do you support the possible redesignation of city clerk position from a charter position to a noncharter position? WATERS: Yes. Continuity of supervision of the city clerk by the city manager is important, not necessarily by a frequently changing City Council. If cuts are necessary in the 2009-10 city budget, what areas would you trim? WATERS: I would like to analyze the entire budget, line by line of sorts, to evaluate where cuts should be. I do not favor just targeting one area over another. What would you do to help small business owners in Seminole? WATERS: Two suggestions I'm hearing is residents do not like government being in competition with private business and they would like to see an Internet sales tax passed and collected, all in the name of fairness. The bricks-and-mortar businesses are at a disadvantage when compared to the dotcoms. I would also like the city of Seminole in conjunction with the Seminole Chamber of Commerce and Seminole business community to unite and start a marketing campaign to Buy Seminole Now. We need to create some buzz and create awareness. I'm all about profit and paychecks when it comes to business, economic development and redevelopment projects. Closing remarks WATERS: As an average hard-working resident, I appreciate and will be attentive to the safety and security government services provide us, and to help maintain the quality of life we all enjoy in Seminole. I look forward to the opportunity to serve the citizens of Seminole again. Read the full story here Article published on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2009 Copyright © Tampa Bay Newspapers: All rights reserved. |