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Liz Tice

Office you seek: Oak Ridge Town Council

Occupation: Real Estate Broker for Allen Tate Realtors

Education: B.A. in sociology from UNC-Chapel Hill

Address: 2022 Oak Ridge Road

Email address: Liz.Tice@AllenTate.com

Previous elective experience: It is a privilege to run for my first elective office

Other relevant experience (volunteer and service): Vice Chairman of Oak Ridge Easter Horse Show; Oak Ridge Community Center; Greensboro Board of Realtors; Greensboro Urban Ministry; Operation Smile; Oak Ridge Presbyterian Church, Elder and Charter Member.

Why have you chosen to run for this office? To assist in maintaining Traditional Oak Ridge Values.

Key qualifications you would bring to the job: Attitude; a willingness to listen; the ability to make decisions.

Family: Two children and two grandchildren.

What distinguishes you most from your opponents? I have been a Realtor in Oak Ridge and Guilford County for 29 years. I feel I have a pulse for the people of Oak Ridge and their concerns. My father graduated from Oak Ridge Military Institute in 1923 and my daughter in 1979. Oak Ridge is a part of my heritage.

Please list the top three issues in Oak Ridge and your stances on those issues:

1. Taxes: I support reviewing and reducing the current tax structure for our residents in these tough financial times.
2. Municipal Water: The town of Oak Ridge continues to thrive. The growth that we are experiencing indicates that we must be prepared to meet the demands of the community. Part of those demands is to ensure that every citizen has availability to clean water. We must explore every opportunity to limit these expenses by possibly partnering with neighboring areas while protecting the long-term future and rights of the citizens of Oak Ridge.
3. Explore all additional avenues of revenue and donations, such as the Oak Ridge Horse Show, which can and will support the community. This is a great Oak Ridge tradition that if supported by the community, which starts with its leaders, will thrive. The Oak Ridge Community Center, which sponsors the Oak Ridge Horse Show, has given financial support to the community in the form of college scholarships for Northwest High School students and the Oak Ridge Fire Department in their fire prevention programs, as well as Oak Ridge Elementary School. An additional and important way to reduce revenue is to closely monitor the budget and reduce expenses wherever possible.

If you were to give Oak Ridge a letter grade on its effectiveness in managing growth, what would it be? Rather than assign a grade, which may serve to stimulate emotions and controversy, the town of Oak Ridge has grown steadily and effectively. The challenge and opportunity is planning for the long-term future of our citizens and generations to come. This community and those that serve it have tried to do the best job possible. We must always push and challenge ourselves by asking “Can we do a better job?” I know we can!

What vote or decision of the current council would you overturn? Why do you disagree with the decision? Our research indicates that in almost every decision, the town council voting has been unanimous, which may indicate that additional dialogue and public input is needed. The town council should be transparent with all the information these decisions are based on by making this information readily available to all.