Special to IFN
After serving more than 33 years in the military, Ward 4 resident Dana Tucker is running for a seat on the Mooresville Town Board of Commissioners.
In his campaign announcement, Tucker said he wants to be a voice for those who believe it’s time for change in local government. Residents want their elected officials to engage and listen, to be held accountable to the best interests of town residents, and to put the people of Mooresville first, the retired Army colonel said.
“Recently, I’ve grown increasingly concerned about issues surrounding transparency, ethics, and development by our current governance,” he said in his campaign announcement. “It’s time for local leadership that ensures residents are informed, heard, and prioritized – especially when it comes to how our town grows.
“I’m not a career politician. I am a trained military officer and organizational oversight manager. I was somewhat hesitant to throw my name in the running at first because of the animosity that often comes with running for public office. But my concerns over what is happening in our town outweighed my trepidation. We’ve got to restore the faith of our taxpayers in the representatives they vote for,” he added.
It is critical to the town to restore the public’s trust in the town hall, Tucker explained.
“Elected officials are voted on by the residents of our community and should serve the interests and concerns of those voters. I want to connect, listen, and hopefully navigate the complexities of our issues to reach common sense solutions. A government that values integrity provides open communication. Our citizens have a right to full disclosure of public spending, accountability in decision making, and honest leadership that ensures timely public access to information,” added Tucker.
Town residents have consistently raised three issues that are the cornerstone of Tucker’s campaign — transportation infrastructure; development; and instability within the Town of Mooresville workforce.
“Voters wonder if transportation infrastructure will ever catch up to the development which appears to continue unabated. Growth is inevitable; however, it should be managed in a way that doesn’t sacrifice the quality of life for our taxpayers to the benefit of developers and their preferred mortgage lenders,” said Tucker. “I’ve learned we have undeveloped areas already rezoned, so the concern is we can’t ‘stop the train.’ Yet there continue to be additional rezoning approvals feeding growth in areas that already leave us stuck through three light cycles and gridlocks.”
The culture in town hall is also troubling, he added.
“Concern over the recent exodus of town employees is another resounding issue. The departure of solid workers continues to swell at an alarming rate. A growing town requires a steady workforce to manage its operations and planning. There is something questionable here and the current governance has dismissed and re-directed any attempt at citizen inquiries,” he explained.
If elected, Tucker promised to represent the needs of citizens while maintaining integrity, honesty, and accountability.
“I have no agenda or ulterior motives other than doing what’s best for our community, on behalf of our community. I am guided by honor, decency, and strong moral ethics. I have the tenacity to truly represent those that would elect me and the courage to stand up against hidden agendas,” he said.