Article Contributed on: 9/25/2007 4:05:27 PM
JB Freeman is running for Edgewater City Council.
My name: JB Freeman
My age: 58
My family: Wife,
Juanita; brother-in-law
John and our aunt,
Helen, 93, our family matriarch.
Education: CSU coursework in project management. Certified Project Management Professional (Construction specialization), 1999.
Trades/professional/engineering courses and certifications dating from 1969, including industrial, commercial and residential electrical; fire alarm; fire sprinkler; fire suppression Special Hazards; Fire Protection Engineering/Life Safety; Building Codes including the International Code Council series of codes and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) series of codes.
Member of NFPA since 1997 and member of the following sections -
Architects, Engineers and Building Officials; Electrical; Building Fire Safety Systems; Industrial Fire Protection; Health Care.-
Forty years in construction and construction-related fields, including project management in some of the most challenging environments in the world. The last 17 years of this experience included hiring and managing qualified trades persons to work in Antarctica; providing quality assurance services (job inspection, deficiency reports and post-correction inspection services) for all Fire/Life Safety work, and providing project close-out documentation for a variety of government projects. In this capacity I worked closely with government inspectors to ensure that all projects met rigorous standards in all areas.
What I do: Fire protection consultant for a local fire protection engineering group. Previously with the US Antarctic Program (USAP) for 17 years, in charge of various projects and specializing in Fire Protection/Life Safety systems. In the last 9 years of my Antarctic career, I was the primary systems designer, outside fire protection contractor reviewer and point of contact for all Fire Protection and Life Safety issues for the USAP facilities for the continent of Antarctica , building laboratories, office facilities, warehouses and dormitories at the three United States research bases in Antarctica.
My favorite place in town to hang out: Home! After 17 years of constant travel, I love being home. I also love to venture around the neighborhood to visit friends and local eateries.
What I like most about living here: The small town ambiance, being able to walk down the street and visit with neighbors, where the pace of life is less hurried.
My interests and hobbies: Fire protection, family, playing music with friends, songwriting, history, travels with my wife including tropical reef diving and exploring museums.
My favorite thing to cook: Fish and veggies, on the grill!
People who inspired me (and how):John F. Kennedy, for his commitment to service to others; Woody Guthrie, in music and the advancement of our American heritage; Martin Luther King for his Dream for an America available to and equal for all.
How I have contributed to the community: When not in Antarctica, I have been a regular attendee and participant at City Council meetings over the last 12 years. I closely followed and participated in discussions on the course of action for the 20th & Depew development; participated in the recent Charter Review Committee; active in the Community garden at the Orum House (I was the one strapped to the roto-tiller!)
The biggest issues facing Edgewater now: Controlled and intelligent economic development of the limited revenue-generating properties in Edgewater. With intelligent development of these properties (adherence to the Master Plan, long-range economic forecasting instead of merely short-term gain, and a dedicated ear to the wishes of our community), other pressing issues - Police/Fire/Public Works facilities, hiring a City Manager/Administrator, retention of valuable City employees, and more - can be properly addressed.
Why I am running: Firstly, because I can. My former work and travel prevented me from having the required time in the City to devote to the job of council person.
I believe that my professional experience with mid-to-large scale construction projects and budgets, with Fire and Emergency Services and related issues, and with codes and standards (especially as that relates to our Police and Fire Department needs), can help to inform City Council debate and decisions and move the City forward.
I have a long history managing budgets and many of Edgewater's pressing issues are budget-related. Target will help, but more help is needed. I believe that an intelligent approach - one grounded in facts - is required by the City Council, in concert with the Mayor and our City employees, to identify the best course of action for developing City property within the vision of Edgewater's Master Plan, for seeing that development to completion, for ensuring that development inconsistent with the Master Plan is not allowed to move forward and to responsibly budgeting for current and future needs with the proceeds of our planned development.
In my career with the USAP I was regularly required to stand up to the special interests in my own company in order to ensure proper life safety for the personnel of the USAP. If elected to City Council, I will bring that history of strong ethics and transparency to the Council. I believe that the Citizens of Edgewater deserve to know what is going on, when it goes on, and to have all decisions made by their Council be above reproach. I will provide access to all of our Citizens, not just the loud or the powerful. I believe it is time for "Of the People, by the People, for the People" to become an Edgewater standard again.