Rachel Hall is announcing her candidacy for Cleveland City Council Position 5 in the upcoming election to be held on Saturday, May 4.
“My desire is to be a public servant, a wise financial steward, a watchdog, and an advocate for the children and taxpayers within our city.
I am not a politician – I am a neighbor who cares about our city, its past and its future. I did not grow up in Liberty County or in Cleveland nor did I graduate from Cleveland High School. However, I moved here over 10 years ago and have made this city my home and raised my children here,” Hall said.
With a heart for service, Hall said she can think of no greater privilege than being chosen as a representative voice for the individuals, families, and businesses who call Cleveland home.
“It is a blessing to live in this great nation, founded by Constitutional rights, and to be governed by a democracy of the people, by the people, and for the people. I believe the city needs diversity on the council, and other appointed boards, and to work together toward a unified vision of positive and sustainable growth that will allow for our community to thrive,” she said. “When you see a member of city council, you should see a face of someone who aligns with your ideals and beliefs who will take a stand on issues that matter to you in his or her role as councilmember. It is for this reason I share with you my personal values, beliefs, education, and experience to encourage you to consider me as your representative and to earn your vote.”
Hall says her core values are honesty, integrity, service, hard work and humor.
She lists the following as her beliefs:
• Business development and business retention are central to positive growth and should be one of the primary goals of the city for the next several years in order to have a healthier budget and fund balance.
• Aging infrastructure needs updating and repair while new infrastructure is added to promote business and residential growth; and this will take time and a need to seek out grants and other funding options for long-term capital projects.
• Public safety is a top priority to residents and businesses in town and needs adequate funding.
• Residents would like an increase in local options for dining, shopping, entertainment, and recreation.
• A multi-year strategic direction, including annual budgets and financial reports, should be posted online for increased communication and transparency, because the money used to fund the city belongs to the taxpayer who has a right to know where and how the money is being spent.
• City Hall, including paid employees, elected officials, and appointed board members, should have a system of checks-and-balances in place to operate efficiently and within the best interest of the community and should represent diversity of the city.
• Families deserve safe drinking water, clean streets, roads in good repair, quality educational opportunities, recreational activities nearby, and community gathering places such as parks, libraries, museums, and venues for all ages.
• Parks should be updated, maintained year-round, and have accessible play areas for children of any age, including play areas for children with disabilities or special needs.
• Veterans, senior citizens, children, and families living in poverty have a voice to be heard in the community and need access to supports and services that will help them improve or maintain a positive quality of life within our city.
• Cleveland has many great people who call the city their home.
Hall is a public education with a bachelor of arts degree in Interdisciplinary Studies and a masters degree in Learning and Technology, and is a graduate student nearing completion of a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree. She has prior experience covering local news for the Cleveland Advocate, The Vindicator and Bluebonnet News.
Hall currently is an appointed board member to the Cleveland Economic Development Corporation. She is a member of Cleveland Lions Club and the Cleveland ISD Education Foundation.
For more information about Hall and her campaign for Cleveland City Council Position 5, follow her on Facebook: “Rachel Hall, Cleveland EDC Boardmember.”
Editor’s note: All candidates for city and school board positions are invited to submit announcements of their candidacy to Bluebonnet News. Please include a high-resolution photo. Email to editor@bluebonnetnews.com.