Jennifer Willet prioritizes servant leadership in alderman race
Black Mountain candidate focuses on community, collaboration and communication
Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
October 11, 2020
Jennifer Willet, who was appointed to the board of aldermen in March, is one of six candidates running for a seat in the Nov. 3 general election. Photo by Fred McCormick
With early voting for the Tuesday, Nov. 3 election beginning Thursday, Oct. 15 and continuing until Saturday, Oct. 31, The Valley Echo is publishing a series of profiles on candidates in the race for three seats on the Black Mountain Board of Aldermen. Profiles of all six candidates will be published weekly through the end of October.
Some of Jennifer Willet’s earliest childhood memories unfold in front of the backdrop of the Black Mountain Police Department, where her father Allen Willet served as chief for many years.
“I really have a passion for this town,” said Willet, who was appointed in March to fill a vacancy on the board of aldermen and is now one of six candidates campaigning for three seats on the ballot in the Tuesday, Nov. 3 general election. “I really care about the people of this town and the employees who work so hard for this community.”
That fondness for her hometown inspired her to serve it.
“I thought about running for alderman in the last election, but I didn’t have a clear plan at the time,” she said. “Instead, I took a step back and focused on using my time on the planning board as a learning experience.”
Willet, a graduate of Montreat College who held a seat on the town’s planning board at the time she was appointed alderman, was one of 11 people who submitted a form earlier this year expressing interest in filling the vacancy that was created by the Jan. 27 death of longtime board member Carlos Showers.
“I didn’t come to the board with any preconceived notions or an agenda,” said the Black Mountain business owner and State Employees Credit Union financial services officer. “I just want to be a voice for the people of this community.”
While new to the campaign trail, Willet’s experience on the board of aldermen to this point has offered her valuable insight into the inner workings of town government. Her goal is to build on that knowledge, and if elected, to focus on community, collaboration and communication.
‘Three things that are important to me’
Willet describes her approach to local government as service leadership.
“I think being a servant leader means making decisions with the people in mind,” she said. “Not a monetary objective, but putting our focus on a community that benefits the people. I don’t want anything to be viewed as ‘us vs. them’ in any aspect — not the board vs. the residents, not elected officials vs. staff or anything like that.”
Aldermen should encourage input from citizens and work to find ways to address concerns, she continued.
“From a leadership perspective, there are three things that are important to me: community, collaboration and communication,” Willet said. “All of these are necessary to preserve the things that we love about this town while ensuring that we manage growth responsibly.”
Balancing small town resources and the needs of a growing community
One thing that has become clear to Willet since joining the board is that decisions are rarely simple.
“I think a lot of issues can be a little more complicated than many people realize. As a small town with limited resources, you have to constantly weigh the costs of all of the great things we all want against what we’re capable of doing at the moment,” she said. “I don’t think you could find a person in the community or on the board who doesn’t want the greenways finished, a community center, more parks and recreation services and all kinds of great services. It comes down to the resources that are available.”
Willet views her professional background as a strength when it comes to balancing the needs of a rapidly growing community and being a responsible steward of taxpayer money.
“In recent years, the board has been financially conservative in an effort to be prepared for anything that might come,” she said. “Nobody knew we would be facing a pandemic, and the previous board’s direction lined us up to put together a strong budget while our sales tax fell tremendously.”
The town budget, approved in June, estimates an 11% decrease in projected sales tax revenue for the 2020-21 fiscal year. Those funds, which were steadily increasing in the years prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, typically account for approximately 20% of the town’s general fund budget.
“Right now, it’s important that everyone supports our local businesses,” Willet said. “Not only are business owners in an incredibly difficult situation, but that sales tax revenue is a huge part of our town’s income. These businesses help support this community in so many ways.”
While the pandemic has underscored the value of prudent financial planning, according to Willet, it has also highlighted the need to preserve green space in the town.
“I’m very passionate about the town’s greenways, parks and green spaces,” she said. “They truly are spaces for a wide range of people to come together, and they’re vital for public health. Imagine how awful it would be, especially during a pandemic, if we didn’t have the natural resources that we have. I use them, and believe strongly in supporting them.”
While greenways also offer an enhanced sense of community for many seeking outdoor recreation, there are many other town assets that require the board’s attention, according to Willet. She points to stormwater management and road maintenance as crucial components in supporting recent and future development within town limits.
“They’re all pieces of the pie,” she said. “Infrastructure is something that a lot of people don’t want to talk about, because it’s not as appealing as greenways. But, we have to address all of the things that play a role in making the town function.
“Anybody can say what they want to do to improve the town, but the conversation has to make sense within the context of the budget,” Willet continued. “We have to operate within our budgetary constraints, and those conversations can be tough, but they’re necessary. Our staff works hard to find grants and funding opportunities for so many projects.”
Communication is key to transparency
While Willet is running as an incumbent, she is new to campaigning. Her efforts to connect with voters have been hampered by COVID-19, but the topic of transparency in local government is one that has come up on a consistent basis.
“After being on the board these past few months, I think improving transparency is something that can be achieved and is necessary,” she said. “As important as transparency is, how can we not always try to do better?”
There has been a clear call for action from the community, according to Willet, and answering that call is the job of public servants.
“I’m open to different ideas and thoughts that maybe we haven’t tried before,” she said. “You have to grow in order to meet the demands of the community. I think the key to improved transparency is communication with the public. I welcome the opportunity to speak to any resident who reaches out to me, by phone or through email.”
Willet’s appointment to the board followed a two-week period in which the town accepted forms from citizens interested in filling the position. She believes a similar process should be used when vacancies arise in the future.
“I think it’s better to have an application process because it lets the board and the community know who is interested,” she said. “It absolutely speaks to transparency, because it provides an actual list of people who are willing to serve.”
The town charter dictates that sitting aldermen appoint a replacement in the event of a vacancy on the board or in the mayor’s office. According to town attorney Ron Sneed, the N.C. General Statute does not grant the authority to hold special elections to fill them, there is no existing legal guidance regarding the selection process. In the September regular meeting of the board, Town Manager Josh Harrold told aldermen that members of the public have indicated they would prefer an established protocol to dictate the process.
Sustainable growth and small town character
Her position on the board of aldermen is not something Willet takes lightly.
“This is a service, and it’s one that we took on to help better the town,” she said. “The people who serve on the town’s boards do it because they care about this community.”
The task requires commitment and an open mind, she continued.
“A lot of people have ideas about how the government works, or should work, but when you get in there you realize there are roadblocks,” Willet said. “It takes time to learn how everything operates. I did a lot of observing during the budget process, and was fortunate to be able to rely on the experience of fellow board members and the town manager. It can be overwhelming when you’re new.”
Something Willet discovered early in her term, however, is that many people share a similar vision for the town but see different paths for achieving it.
“One of the things that people have told me is that they are passionate about maintaining the small town character of Black Mountain, and that’s something that I believe many of us cherish,” she said. “It’s also what draws people here, and a big part of why the town is growing. We have to work to keep the things that people love about it, and grow in a sustainable way.”