The View 38002 March 2020 The View March 2020 | Page 6

Page 6 | MARCH 2020
www.theview38002.com
Josh Roman Lakeland
Vice-Mayor announces he
will not run again in 2020
Special to THE VIEW 38002”
Questions;
1. HAVE YOU AND YOUR FAMILY
ENJOYED LIVING IN LAKELAND?
My wife, Ursula, and I purchased
a house on Stonebridge’s #9 Fair-
way in 2001 as we prepared to get
married. We have moved twice
within Lakeland as our family has
grown. We love the life we have
built together here, both of our
girls, Baylor (10) and Mallory (6),
know Lakeland, TN as their home
town.
2. WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO GET
INVOLVED WITH LAKELAND POLITICS.
Ursula went to college at MTSU
in Murfreesboro, and I was here
at University of Memphis. I read
an advertisement for Legislative
Interns, a program to get college
students involved in the legisla-
tive process, and I jumped at the
chance to be closer to her while
learning more about government.
I ended up interning for Speaker
of the House Jimmy Naifeh from
Covington, TN and enjoyed seeing
the intersection of business and
politics. When Lakeland put on a
Leadership Lakeland class in 2004,
I decided to see what opportuni-
ties there were to serve locally. In
2005 I was appointed as a volun-
teer for the Lakeland Economic
Development Commission, and I
served on that board for 13 years.
I never saw myself as a politician,
but upon learning that there was a
group collaborating to obstruct the
formation of our own municipal
school district for Lakeland, I was
motivated to get out of my comfort
zone. In 2015 I entered the race for
one of the seats as a Commissioner
for Lakeland.
3. WHAT ARE YOUR
ACCOMPLISHMENTS ON THE BOC.
I do not see the work that has
been accomplished during my time
serving in public office as “my ac-
complishments;” instead, I see the
many people, teams and commit-
tees with whom I have worked to
make Lakeland a better place. In
the first 3 years of being elected, we
had numerous wins such as tearing
down the old Factory Outlet Mall,
supporting businesses who had
a desire to open new locations
(McDonald’s, Krystal’s), created a
Debt Management Policy, opened
Lakeland Middle Preparatory
School, started numerous recre-
ational programs (football, cheer,
soccer and club soccer), approved
funding to fix the “bridges to no-
where,” funded sewer system up-
grades, and made major (and much
needed) investments in our roads.
The most recent team has funded
the building of a high school for
Lakeland students, supported The
Lake District to ground breaking,
creatively got an Aldi’s grocery
store, obtained security cameras
for various locations around our
city, and is making massive com-
mitments to our Parks and Recrea-
tion facilities and programs.
4. WHAT WILL THE NEW HIGH SCHOOL
MEAN FOR LAKELAND.
A complete school system means
that our Lakeland School System
teachers, administration and elect-
ed officials can have accountability
on how we are preparing our kids
for the workforce, post secondary
education and life. Parents also
now have a voice in their child’s
education from all the way through
graduation.
5. WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO NOT
RUN IN THE NEXT ELECTION.
I don’t know if I ever really
decided. I was just given a peace
about not running right now, so I
followed that inner voice.
6. WHAT DO YOU HOPE THE
COMMISSION ACCOMPLISHES THE
MOST IN UPCOMING SESSIONS.
First and foremost is clearing this
cloud of “anomalies” from over
City Hall. Whether it’s coincidence
or not, after this politically moti-
vated speech was made, we have
received resignations from several
key positions in our City staff (ex-
amples include Parks and Recrea-
tion Director, Financial and Human
Resources Director, Code Enforce-
ment and Director of Planning.)
We need to show confidence in our
team at City Hall and help foster a
thriving workplace environment.
Secondly, I’d like to see improve-
ment some of the issues within our
recreational program facilities.
We have over $4 Million dollars in
un-designated fund balance above
and beyond our debt management
policy which requires about $4
Million on hand as an emergency
fund. There is no reason our kids
are learning and playing on very
cramped or borrowed fields. My
hope is between partnering with
the Lakeland School System and
making an investment in Lakeland
Parks and Recreation, we can have
a long term fix.
Lastly, I want to see The Lake
District and Lakeland Commons get
built. Between both of these devel-
opments its almost a $400 Million
investment in our city that will
positively impact our city’s financ-
es in an enormous way. With both
of these projects being successful,
we can triple our roads budget and
pay off debt much quicker. Un-
fortunately, both of these projects
continue to face opposition via stall
tactics at the Mayor’s Municipal
Planning Commission, rude online
comments, and facing a constant
stream of doubt. My goal is to
encourage them and do what I can
to help them see their high quality
projects come to fruition including
the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office
sub-station.
7. DO YOU THINK LAKELAND WILL
CONTINUE TO HAVE THE RURAL
COMMUNITY FEEL TO IT WITH ALL THE
GROWTH.
Lakeland is evolving, and al-
though we have some big projects,
these projects are in the right
places to make sure we keep the
community feel that all of us so
sincerely love. The Lake District is
rebuilding in space already des-
ignated for a mall and Lakeland
Commons is the only commercial
development on the north side of
town passed the highway inter-
section area. The new school is
tucked away in a very picturesque
setting. Yes, I think we are very
fortunate to have leadership who is
fighting to bring the right growth
to Lakeland to provide services
and income to our City while still
maintaining the community feel
we currently know and love.
Ribbon cutting
Sunrise Builders
Supply
Managing member, Charles
Thomas celebrates the opening of
Sunrise Builders Supply with staff,
friends, vendors, and Chamber
members. Sunrise Builders Supply
(www.sunrisebuilderssupply.
com) is located at 5994 Jetway in
Arlington.