The following is City Council At-Large candidate Donna Riechmann's complete response to our survey. Click here for the list of questions.
Donna Riechmann
• Date of birth (age): 63
• Professional background: partner, Leadership Solutions LLC
• Previous political experience: None
• Highest level of education: Doctorate, UNC-Chapel Hill
• Website: donnariechmann.com
1. Participating in the EPA program is the right thing to do, and we are showing leadership in North Carolina. We should evaluate the effectiveness over time and then propose changes, as appropriate. (33)
2. Increased bus service, light rail, new roads, more bicycle facilities. I think we’re already doing a good job on new roads (which are essential for our economic growth), and bicycle lanes (which are essential to health and quality of life). We need more routes and more frequent pickups on our bus routes for students, elderly, disabled and low-income citizens. (60)
3. We need to continue to attract new companies, with the city council working hand in glove with other agencies seeking new employees, such as Piedmont Triad Partnership and the Greensboro Partnership. We have to expand the tax base, thus we need criteria for attracting businesses that will grow jobs, pay well, and be environmentally conscious. We also should increase the number of internships and mentoring programs available to young people to increase job skills. (75)
4. Incentives are necessary now in the global economy we live in, whether people like it or not. We should choose companies carefully and have criteria for awarding incentives. We want businesses that will keep and grow jobs, pay well, and be environmentally conscious. (44)
5. The city council needs to foster a friendly atmosphere for existing businesses, making it easier to get through the bureaucracy and red tape. We owe it to our current employers to save them money and effort and to come up with creative incentives to grow business and jobs. (49)
6. We need higher paying jobs, no question. Fortunately, NC minimum wage is no $6.15, higher than the federal minimum wage, but that is still not “living wage.” I don’t know if $9.36 is the right target but I am willing to study the issue. You have to balance business profit with fair employee compensation, and city council would have to work with the business community to determine how to best address the impact of minimum wage increases. (78)
7. We should follow the guidelines of the Comprehensive Plan, modifying only when extreme circumstances dictate. Inevitably, some fringe development will occur, but it can be done in a manner that is consistent with long-term goals. We need to avoid urban sprawl and unchecked development, and the city council should exercise strong leadership in this regard. (56)
8. We need a unified land development plan for this large geographical area. We have to solve versus high-density issues, and wee need site ready to attract businesses. I worked in Research Triangle Park, and it was a hassle to have no services nearby, so having an appropriate mix of businesses is essential. I don’t want individual developers making the decisions. (61)
9. There is a great deal of conflicting information about this, but it is clear that some bad things happened. I am in favor of giving Chief Bellamy the chance to improve the situation and take steps to prevent mistakes from happening again. The city council needs to take a leadership role in this matter, work with the city manager, and get us moving forward in rebuilding credibility and trust. (70)
10. I’m not ready to go that far until I know more about the situation and then work toward identifying the best solutions. (23)
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