InTucker Magazine

Taking Office

After a Fall of Close Elections, New Officeholders Examine Priorities for City Council

ROGER W ORLANDO
It is with extreme gratitude to the voters of District One that I am joining a governing body that thus far has performed with auspiciousness, honor and integrity in Tucker’s first five years as a city. I have big shoes to fill. The previous, dedicated service to our community by Ms. Pat Soltys from District One [Post One], simply put, was honorable and I hope to serve our entire city in the same principled and distinguished manner. It is my desire to contribute toward the continued upward trajectory of Tucker as a fairly new city, as it will become a desired destination for residents and visitors alike. Tucker can only achieve this goal as a community if it is safe, and public safety perhaps is my number one agenda item. Public safety is the sine qua non, or that which must come before anything else in order to see new development, peaceful residency and for visitors to feel welcome in our community for working, dining, or shopping purposes. I intend to keep a close eye on public safety in addition to all of the other duties and issues that come with this opportunity to serve; if not only for my constituency, but by the very fact that my family lives here as well. I am grateful to have this public service opportunity and I am ready and willing to work hard for my neighbors and this city, speak to and listen to my constituents, and to advance all that Tucker has to offer.

VIRGINIA RECE
I think there’s no higher calling in terms of a career than public service, which is a chance to make a difference in people’s lives and improve the world.- Jack Lew

I have been serving on City Council for 5 weeks. It’s been a whirlwind! During the campaign, I promised to make decisions thoughtfully. I promised to represent Tucker with integrity and make decisions thoughtfully and carefully. To say I’m honored that our community put its trust in me to serve our community would be an understatement. I’m so excited about working on the ideas and vision I set forth during the campaign, by collaborating with my fellow city council members to realize our ideas together.

I would love to make Tucker the most walkable city in the state, maybe even the country. I think it’s possible! I hope to help complete and expand on our Master Trail Path for sidewalks and bike trails and help expand transportation options especially Bus Rapid Transit. I hope to help improve public safety through quality economic development and partnering with our Tucker Police Precinct. I hope to work with my fellow city council members to finalize a Non-Discrimination Ordinance.

CARA SCHROEDER
I am proud and honored to have been elected to serve on Council.  My involvement in the Tucker community has a deep history.  It has been a goal of mine to serve on City Council because fulfilling the duties of the new District 2 Post 1 leader means engaging neighbors and friends.

It is a priority, in the first 90 days, to review the current resolution on the Non-Discrimination Ordinance. Weighing the community’s input will be part of the process, and perhaps organizing a commission of leaders to join us to address this effort is the right path forward. I feel it is important to engage neighbors who are also leaders in the community to participate. Some of my other priorities include partnering with our Development Authority and the CIDs to make the Lawrenceville Highway gateway into our city more inviting and welcoming; continuing to monitor the traffic calming and public safety project plans; and addressing Tucker’s Growth as we face new development and future economic expansion.

I will embrace the feedback of the prior Council and Team Tucker in the hopes that the new team for 2022 will approach our business for the City wisely. We will work together in collaboration and with a common vision to accomplish the important work of serving the people of Tucker.

To Michelle Penkava, Matt Robbins, and Pat Soltys: may I express how much we appreciated your leadership and service during the first 5-6 years of our founding city hood.  Thank you for your support during this important transition of leadership.

I believe the community knows I truly enjoy serving our community and want do good around me. I hope to learn how to help our city in ways that will improve our quality of life with peace and harmony for our future generations.

ALEXIS WEAVER
I am very excited to serve on the Tucker City Council, and I’m honored and humbled that the voters in District Three decisively placed their confidence in me. I’m proud that our council race had the highest turnout, and I received that as an affirmation of the energized leadership and inclusive values I promised to bring to the position. Diversity is Tucker’s greatest strength. This is a message I repeated throughout the campaign. Yet, there is still so much work to be done. My number one priority over the next four years is hearing from YOU, the residents of Tucker. I plan to work tirelessly to make sure everyone’s voice is heard. I will truly listen to your concerns, amplify those voiced concerns and then respond with action. That’s my commitment to you. As a working mom with three children and an active volunteer, I see the breadth of our community and regularly interact with Tucker residents across generations—from serving with NETWorks Cooperative Ministry to cheering on my kids playing rec sports at Henderson Park, Fitzgerald Field and Rehoboth Baptist Church. I understand what it means to care about your community but not always have the time for additional activities. I plan to help make engaging in decision making more accessible. As a nonprofit leader and urban planner with two decades experience in economic and community development, I’m eager to explore creative ways to address challenges and seize on opportunities so that everyone can flourish and thrive, including passing a non-discrimination ordinance in the days ahead. Please reach out and introduce yourself (aweaver@tuckerga.gov)—I’m ready to work for YOU!