Name: Tony Chavonne
District for Which You Are Running. Mayor.
Address: P.O. Box 87222 (28304)
Day Time Phone #: 910-433-3401
Campaign Manager: Self
Campaign E-Mail: Tony@TonyForMayor.com
Occupation: Business Owner.
Campaign Website: TonyForMayor.com
List your most Recent Political/Community experience
(provide the dates): Mayor – 2005 to present.
What business/civic organizations that you associated with (list
leadership and roles.) Cumberland County Business Council (Chairman
2004-05); FAEDC (Chairman 2003); Greater Fayetteville Futures (co-Chairman
2001); Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce (Chairman 1999).
As a candidate, what are your top three policy issues? (1)
Adoption of a growth management plan that identifies areas we expect to see
urban growth occur and ensures that urban standards are included in the
development of those areas; (2) a revision of our antiquated zoning and
subdivision regulations, and (3) active participation to ensure that we take
advantage of every growth opportunity with the changes at Fort Bragg and Pope.
What specific NEW initiative would you suggest for economic
growth in Fayetteville? How would it be implemented? It is
time to recognize that the retail cluster can be an even larger economic engine
in Fayetteville. We need to better quantify the under reported disposable
income levels of a significant portion of our citizens in the military. And we
should identify the key demographics of those that live on the base (education
levels, for example) that retailer site selectors consider when locating a new
retail location. With that information we could recruit more diversity and
volume of the retail stores in Fayetteville.
Can Fayetteville and Cumberland County successfully
consolidate/merge their governments? What would be the benefits/problems of
consolidating two governments into one? No one knows the answers to those
questions. Our best opportunity to learn those answers is the recent initiative
co-sponsored by the city and county that will identify the best type of local
government for our community.
What do you believe to be the city council’s greatest
accomplishments and disappointments in the last two years? Among the
council’s successes would be (1) the recommitment to funding infrastructure
including paving streets and funding law enforcement; (2) the adoption of a
recycling program; and (3) the
implementation of a more strategic and disciplined planning process tied to the
budget. The greatest disappointment would include our inability to identify the
revenue sources to fully fund the sewer extensions to all the homes in the
annexed area.
How should the city best leverage the impact of the BRAC
process? The city is heavily engaged in efforts to maximize the
opportunities with BRAC. I represent the city and serve as Vice Chairman of the
BRAC RTF. Its responsibilities include development of a growth management plan
for the region. The local BRAC Task Force, co-sponsored by the city, is
coordinating with the BRAC RTF and working with hundreds of volunteers to make
Fayetteville an attractive option for those relocating with BRAC. At the same
time it gives us the opportunity to make Fayetteville a more attractive,
cleaner and more peaceful city for everyone that lives here.
How can the city council and the business community work
more effectively to build a better workforce? We need to work hard to
better understand the workforce we have – what are our collective skill sets
and capabilities? How do they match up with the identified skills that arriving
industries need and how do we match them. The BRAC RTF was recently awarded $5
million for workforce development. The city should remain committed to working
closely with that effort.
What would you do to work cooperatively with the other
members of the city council? Communication and mutual respect
are the keystones to any effective organization, including the city council.
