Editor's Note: The Santa Rosa Press Gazette will feature Milton City Council candidates running in the Nov. 8 election. We continue this multi-part series with Casey Powell, who is running against incumbent R.L. Lewis for Seat 1 in Ward IV.
Tell us a little about yourself.
I am privileged to have been born and raised in the great city of Milton. I am happily married to Cassie Powell and we share three amazing children: Caymon, 2014 graduate of Milton High School and active duty U.S. Marine; Christa, sophomore and JV cheerleader at MHS; and Brett, a second-grader at Rhodes Elementary School and a City of Milton and Gospel Projects football, basketball and baseball player.
I have been an operations coordinator with Sorenson Communications, a video relay service company for the deaf and hard of hearing, for the past five years and am currently in charge of the Pensacola and Fort Lauderdale locations.
I have a master’s degree in Business Management and have been in management positions for over 10 years. My parents, Curtis and Sue Powell, are graduates of MHS and have lived in Milton their entire lives. I am proud to have been raised by parents that have served the community through their ministry at the First Pentecostal Church in Bagdad.
My father-in-law, Joe Brown, is the small business owner of Brown’s Hauling, Inc. of Milton and my mother-in-law, Tammy Brown, is a six-year employee of the Santa Rosa County Courthouse.
Why are you running for Milton City Council?
I made the decision to run for Milton City Council because I feel like I can give back to this community. I have been volunteering with the City of Milton Youth Sports Programs for the past three years and have had the opportunity to see the impact that working within the community has on our children.
I feel like Milton has hit a plateau and we are in need of growth that honors our heritage, and I’d like to be a part of that change.
As a father, I want to make sure that Milton offers the best for our children and all citizens. My parents taught me, through example, that serving others is the most rewarding way to live.
If elected, what would like to see accomplished in Milton?
If elected, I would focus on improving community awareness, involvement and services. I want to provide an open forum to ensure that the council addresses citizen questions and concerns. I would work to ensure that we are exploring all avenues possible to promote business growth and job creation in Milton. I want to ensure that our children are able to live, work and raise their own families in this great community.
I believe I can be a catalyst for growth and progress. I would like to see more investment in our City Parks and Recreation Department through the creation of a city pool, a second gymnasium, added recreational sports to match high school programs and revitalization of Milton Parks. We have the wonderful advantage of having a riverfront and I would like to see investment in services aimed to meet the needs of family activities in this beautiful area.
I would also like to see improvements made in the area of public transportation and services for our citizens. I would work to address the needs in our neighborhoods for sidewalks, speed bumps and repaving. I would also advocate to keep consistent upkeep for city-owned holding ponds and retention areas. I’d be honored to work with my community to take Milton from good to great!
Our City Council is responsible for making decisions that will best meet the needs of not just today, but (also) our future. We deserve a thriving, vibrant community that honors our heritage while securing our future through growth, service and community pride.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Powell wants to explore options for business growth, job creation