Born in Decatur County Tennessee and moved with my family all over the Tennessee River Valley. W moved to Murray when I was a senior in high school. I graduated from Murray High and Murray State then went to Vanderbilt to complete a Master’s degree in Nursing. After receiving my degree, I came back to teach nursing at MSU. While teaching, I decided I wanted to Chair the Nursing Department so I completed a PhD in Higher Education Administration. There were few doctoral degrees in nursing in 1977, the year I became Chairman. During my tenure, I facilitated the development of the Master’s in Nursing and started the Family Nurse Practitioner program. After a few years, I resigned and went to UK to law school. I worked in health care law for 25 years before retiring and returning to Murray to help my son with my wonderful grandchildren.
After building a house, I worked six years part time for Mayors Rogers and Rose, updating ordinances, working with code enforcement, and conducting special projects. I learned so very much about municipal law and how the city operates. It was fun! Currently, I am serving my eleventh year on the MCCH Board of Trustees. I also serve as Chairman of the Advisory Committee to the Foundation at MCCH. I am a member of Rotary and serve on the Rotary Board and the Rotary Foundation for Families and Children as a Board member. I am active in my church as well.
I love Murray, Kentucky, home for 62 years. My family loves our city. My granddaughters are at MSU and WKYTCT. My grandson is an eighth grader at Calloway. I am running for City Council because I have the education, experience, and background to make a contribution. I want to continue to serve the citizens of Murray. I know how to research and study issues and am a very good communicator. I will listen and study the issues, seek opinions from our citizens, and work with other council members before making decisions on controversial issues. We need to keep our city safe and clean and a place people will want to live and raise a family and to retire.
In your opinion, who is the most underserved population in Murray? How would you use your position on the city council to address their needs?
Much of our Murray population is either over 65 years old or young families with children. Both need affordable, safe, weather efficient and accessible housing. The city could partner with the county and developers, area organizations, and churches to explore the potential for a type of model development for these two population groups. Council members could facilitate this. We must be ready to listen and be creative in solving these housing issues for those segments of our population.
How would you make yourself accessible to constituents outside your existing personal and professional circles, and how would you ensure their concerns are heard?
I am approachable, can talk to anyone, and would be accessible to the citizens of Murray by providing my email address and phone number on city sites. I would continue with to visit the Senior Center and attend various functions where people can talk with me and provide their opinions on issues. I will be available before and after council meetings for discussion and questions. Finally, I would attend City Council meetings if elected.
When residents have strongly opposing views on an issue before the council, how would you approach making a decision?
Strongly opposing opinions require study and research to identify the bottom-line issues and potential solutions, which I can and would do. Then I would talk with people, listen to their opinions, discuss with other council members as well as the Mayor and City Administrator, then make the best decision for the people of Murray and our city for the future.
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