Kristi Bennett, candidate for town council in Holly Springs, NC

Six people are seeking to join the Holly Springs Town Council.

And with three seats open and only one incumbent running for re-election, the board is guaranteed to see some new faces.

Incumbent Peter Villadsen is not seeking another term while Council member Christine Kelly is running for mayor. The leaves incumbent Dan Berry and newcomers Carrie Randa, Jahmar Cobb, Kristi Bennett, Tim Forrest and Susan Smith on the ballot for the three seats.

However, in August, Smith announced on Facebook she was no longer campaigning for the seat.

Early voting in the Nov. 2 election begins Oct. 14 and runs through Oct. 30.

To find polling places and full details on early voting, visit wakevotesearly.com or contact the Board of Elections at 919-404-4040 or voter@wakegov.com

Name: Kristi Bennett

Age: 33

Residence: 137 Ladys Mantle Lane

Occupation: Hair Stylist, business owner, mom of three

Education: BA in History from Brigham Young University, Cosmetology license

Political or civic experience: Founding member of the Holly Springs Interfaith Alliance, church congregation volunteer, public affairs specialist for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Campaign website: www.kristibennettforhollysprings.com

In August, Holly Springs Mayor Dick Sears decided against ordering a mask mandate like some other Wake County towns. Do you agree with this decision?

Yes, in Wake county, the population over 12, is 81% partially vaccinated and 77% fully vaccinated. Our high-risk population is 99% fully vaccinated. That is an incredible achievement because vaccines are far more effective at reducing the severity of COVID-19 symptoms than a mask is at eliminating spread. Of course, anyone who has seen a child sneeze can tell you that a mask is effective at stopping some germ spread. However, COVID-19 is not the only health issue to consider. Depression, obesity, asthma, anxiety, claustrophobia, drug abuse, cyber bullying, stress — all of these are health concerns that have risen over the last year and pose a greater statistical threat now. The median age in Holly Springs is 34. In Wake County, the number of people who have died of COVID-19 from 0-18 years old is 0, from 18-24 years old is 1, and from 25-49 is 24. Out of 1.1 million. Every life lost is a tragedy but basing our community governance off this single factor is no longer our only option.

What is Holly Springs doing right, and wrong, on managing growth?

Holly Springs leadership has done an incredible job of attracting families to this area. We all moved here for a reason- it’s a safe place to live, there are great schools, commute time is low, convenience is high, communities are new and affordable. However, there is always room for improvement. As our town has been focused on increasing in size, we have missed now the necessity of providing amenities that the community who has moved here needs for their quality of life. As we grow, our focus needs to be on anticipating the infrastructure needs of development rather than reacting to them. We need to focus on innovative strategies to recruit and finance development in roads, community amenities and businesses.

If elected, what would your two or three priorities be during your first year in office?

My first priority would be learning from current town leadership and the incredible town manager and staff we have working full time for our benefit. With an appreciation for what they know, I would bring in my ideas, with my main focus being on indoor and outdoor family recreation. Parks and Rec has taken a back seat as our population has grown, and I want to bring it to the foreground again with splash pads, the development of Mim’s Park master plan which passed 10 years ago, progress at the Sugg Farm master plan from eight to nine years ago, and the development of teenager-appropriate spaces. We can also recruit indoor family recreation spaces much like we did with Amgen and Fujifilm so that our families have a place to spend time all together. My other priority would be helping create community interaction with the development of youth programs, giving back with organizations and our Interfaith Alliance, and diversifying and expanding our community events.

What unique skills or life perspective would you bring to city governance?

I have the unique perspective of having a wide range of educational experiences: homeschool, public performing arts middle and high school, classic university education as well as licensure in a trade. I have the experiences of a business owner and I know what it takes to create something out of nothing. I have developed the skills of hard work and initiative from a young age, graduating high school at 16, college at 19, and licensing at 21. I have been an active member of my congregation for years working to create positive change in my community as well as my church as a public affairs specialist and helping to found the Holly Springs Interfaith Alliance. I have the ability to work with others and provide not only my own perspective and ideas but welcome the point of view of others that can only bring a broader vision to any issue. I am a creator, a doer, a mom of three, wife of a USMC veteran and I will make things happen without waiting for someone else to get things done.

This story was originally published October 15, 2021 at 10:36 AM with the headline "Kristi Bennett, candidate for town council in Holly Springs, NC."