Active in community organizations, former Council member seeks to serve again

 

She was the first to pick up a petition and the first to qualify for the 2016 ballot, and now Anne Garcia Garland, a former Oak Ridge City Council member, has formally announced her desire to serve again, a press release said. She’s running for one of three seats on the seven-member Council in the November 8 election.

In the press release, Garcia Garland said she has no business or political agenda, only a continuing desire “to be responsive and accountable to the citizens and help this city thrive.”

She said her primary goals for the city are to:

1. seek a clear return on investment in commercial and industrial development outlays,
2. focus on what the community does exceedingly well in education and city management,
3. develop an equitable relationship with U.S. Department of Energy headquarters, and
4. publicize the extraordinary assets the city already enjoys to a much wider audience of prospective residents and visitors.

Garcia Garland said she works affably with corporate, government, and private organizations. She is active in the League of Women Voters, the American Association of University Women, United Church Chapel on the Hill, and the NAACP. Before retiring, she and her husband T.J. Garland established Noble Metals Inc., a small business that recycles metal scrap and continues to employ local workers.

Her background includes employment in education, accounting, and government contracting, all fields of significance to Oak Ridge management. During her previous 5.5 years on city council, Garcia Garland pressed for accountability for city expenditures, the press release said. She promoted cooperation with Anderson and Roane counties. Garcia Garland advocated for a landlord accountability ordinance and against the use of unmanned traffic camera citations, the press release said.

Asked to say what she most enjoyed about her previous service on Council, Garcia Garland said: “Answering citizen phone calls and emails. I appreciate hearing people’s concerns and helping them however I am able. I was always glad to hear what people thought whether or not we agreed. The second best thing was working with city staff and other Oak Ridgers to promote the well-being of the whole city.”

Garcia Garland can be reached by email at [email protected]. Her writings, which demonstrate a vision for Oak Ridge and elaborate on her background, can be read at her website at annegarciagarland.com, the press release said.

Besides Garcia Garland, other candidates who have announced so far include Oak Ridge High School student Mark LeNoir, Jefferson Middle School teacher Jim Dodson, business owner and current Council member Chuck Hope, construction superintendent Joe Lee, and engineer and Battelle employee Hans Vogel. It’s not clear yet if two other incumbents, Trina Baughn and Charlie Hensley, will seek re-election. The deadline to qualify to run for the November 8 election is noon Thursday, August 18.

You can see our complete coverage in our 2016 Election section.

This press release was submitted by Anne Garcia Garland.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

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