Paula Merrington: Candidate profile

Bio

Name: Paula Merrington

City: Geneva

Office sought: Alderman, 4th Ward

Age: 56

Family: Husband Gary and children Shaun and Grace.

Occupation: R & D Contractor

Education: Registered Nurse & Midwife

Civic involvement: Regular attendee at Geneva City Council meetings. I was a very active participant in local and regional PTA, HOA, was responsible for organizing a quick response team to ensure the safe passage of Geneva congregants into their place of worship while they were being intimidated.

Previous elected offices held: None.

Incumbent? If yes, when were you first elected? No

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Paula-Merrington-for-4th-Ward-Alderman-of-Geneva-2041476016151279

Twitter: https://twitter.com/geneva_paula

Issue questions

What are the most important issues facing your community and how do you intend to address them?

Concerns about economic uncertainty. This is best addressed by promoting transparency in both economic planning and spending.

What makes you the best candidate for the job?

I will draw on my diverse and vast prior community and civic engagement experience to bring a fresh perspective to the Council.

Describe your leadership style and explain how you think that will be effective in producing actions and decisions with your village board or city council.

My leadership style is definitely inclusive and collaborative. I think that encouraging active participation and healthy discussion is the optimal way to reach effective consensus.

How would you describe the condition of your community's budget, and what are the most important specific actions the town should take to assure providing the level of services people want?

There has been a concerted effort over the last 3 years to reduce property taxes. Engaging the community's spending concerns ensures the prioritizing of economic planning.

What's one good idea you have to better the community that no one is talking about yet?

We have to improve communication between the City Council and constituents by the more effective use of social media. With the majority of people turning to social media for community and neighborhood information we need to proactively acknowledge that. We must be sure that community concerns are heard and effectively addressed.