Turk offers leadership city of Fayetteville needs

In a runoff election on Dec. 4, residents of Ward 4 will choose their next Fayetteville City Council representative. I am confident the most qualified candidate is Teresa Turk. Throughout my 30-year friendship with Teresa, I’ve had countless opportunities to observe her advocacy for causes that range from protecting human rights and environmental health to strengthening community and growing our local economy. If elected, Teresa will be a huge asset to Fayetteville and our region.

Teresa embraces inclusivity and diversity. She believes everyone should have a seat at the table. She is a hard-working volunteer who has consistently stepped up to serve, most recently on the Civil Rights Commission, the Historic District Commission and the battle to protect Buffalo River from polluters.

She will promote site-appropriate development and the sustainable use of resources. As a marine biologist, Teresa knows first-hand we can’t take our environment and quality of life for granted. She champions long-range planning to achieve a vision that’s defined in close partnership with Fayetteville citizens (See Fayetteville Master Plans at www.fayetteville-ar.gov/3086/ Master-Plans). She’ll encourage local officials and residents to think critically about what we want Fayetteville to look like 10, 20 and 40 years from now. She’ll also focus on key short-term objectives, including matching the pace of growth in our city with expansion of essential infrastructure and increasing regional pedestrian and bike trail connectivity, giving commuters alternatives that help reduce the number of cars on our roads and alleviate traffic gridlock.

Teresa will bring pragmatic solutions to the challenges facing Fayetteville today. As a City Council member, she will apply the same analytical, problem-solving skills she acquired and refined during decades of experience as a scientist seeking remedies for local-to-global scale issues. She’ll identify the best practices proven in other communities that can help Fayetteville become more economically and environmentally resilient — including innovative ways to reduce the use of plastic and incentives to promote renewable energy, such as waiving building permit fees for homes that use solar panels or geothermal energy. Teresa will advance policies to protect residential property values and end practices that erode the fabric of neighborhoods, such as spot zoning. She will also address the shortage of affordable housing in collaboration with developers and city staff.

Early voting runs 8 a.m to 4:30 p.m. Nov. 27 to Dec. 3 at the Washington County Courthouse and 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, Dec. 4. In Ward 4, the voting centers are the same ones as in the general election: Sang Baptist Church, Shiloh Community Church and Covenant Church.

If you live in Ward 4, I urge you to vote for Teresa Turk. Let’s return this seat to an agenda that best serves the interests of residents in Ward 4 and the greater Fayetteville community. You can learn more about Teresa at Vote4Turk. com. DOT NEELY Fayetteville