Dear Citizens of Cutler Bay:
I am honored to currently serve as your councilwoman for Seat 2. I look forward to continuing to earn your trust and support as I campaign to be elected to this Seat during the upcoming elections to be held Tuesday, June 28th 2011.
I have lived in what is now our Town of Cutler Bay for the past 18 years and I have been involved in various community endeavors for the past 22 years. I have served on the Executive Boards of Kiwanis of Homestead/South Dade and Miami. I have worked closely with the United Way to provide support for nonprofit service providers in our county and was honored to receive the Woman of the Year award by the American Cancer Society. I’ve been the executive director for the Homestead Family Y and I’m currently Director of Grant Development for the YMCA of Greater Miami and I hold a Bachelor of Arts Degree from St. Leo College.
I believe this background gives me a unique perspective on our diverse, warm, earnest and progressive community, while understanding the needs and challenges that our town will face. The Town of Cutler Bay will require responsible management and leadership, to ensure the well being of our community. This requires the commitment of qualified individuals willing to disregard their personal agendas in favor of effective governance. Only then will we reap the benefits of improving services, reducing taxes, and improving our quality of life.
My strength – indeed, my passion - lies in working with individuals, organizations, and groups to achieve common goals. This requires the administrative skills necessary to make the daily operation of an entity function, as well as the ability to persuade business and community leaders to support much needed programs and funding objectives. Divisiveness and finger pointing will not propel our city forward. Rather, momentum can only be gained through vision and principles: the vision to bring innovative business and educational opportunities to the forefront; the principles to make sure that these opportunities benefit our citizens and no one else.
Because I believe in deeds and not in words, I pledge to you, that I will continue to work hard to ensure that our town provides a user friendly, efficient, and responsive government to its residents. I shall work to bridge the gap that divides us and focus on improving the community for all. Together, we can make the town of Cutler Bay the ideal place to live, work, and raise families.
I’d like to hear from you. Please feel free to contact me if you have any ideas on how we can improve our Town’s services and our quality of life. You can email me at sueloyzelle@gmail.com or call me at 305-338-6318.
Issues/Priorities:
Property Taxes: I will oppose any tax increase. This is a time for governmental responsibility. I do not believe that “responsibility” means shifting the burden of watching our books on our citizens.
Crime and Safety: As your councilwoman, I shall work to develop early crime prevention programs that involve schools, parents, neighbors, community volunteers, and police officers. I support neighborhood police programs that bring officers in closer contact with residents and businesses to identify problems and find solutions together.
Economic Development: I will work with the mayor, fellow council members, business, and community leaders to develop projects designed to attract and encourage investment, create jobs, and promote economic activity to increase the Town’s tax base. The Town of Cutler Bay must ensure a user-friendly and efficient process for obtaining permits or licenses. Small businesses need to flourish as they are an essential part of our economic engine.
Valuing our seniors: Our seniors deserve to retire with dignity. Over the last year, I have worked through the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Program to shine a light on our senior citizens, highlighting their contributions to the foundation of Modern Miami. They have worked hard and raised their families and now it’s our time to be there for them. I will work to identify federal, state or county funding sources to help support or fund local senior initiatives.
Parks and families: I understand firsthand the important role that parks play in our community. We need to ensure that our parks remain a vital source of community planning, by continuing to support and develop youth programs, family activities, as well as community events. At the same time, we must keep our parks beautiful, by maintaining proper landscaping areas, while offering a safe and natural atmosphere. I’m committed to making sure our current and future parks are properly maintained, staffed, lighted, clean and safe.
Growth Management: Realizing that development is going to take place, we must ensure that the proper traffic, education, recreation, and service infrastructure are in place to accommodate new developments, while taking into consideration its environmental impact. Responsible growth management is vital to maintaining and improving our quality of life. I will hold regular town hall meetings to encourage both community and business input to shape the general form of future growth.
Fiscal responsibility and open government: I will fight to keep property taxes low, without compromising services. I believe in an open door policy that invites residents to propose improvements or to seek help in finding solutions to problems relating to our town government, without having to hire a lobbyist or seek special influences.
I am looking forward to your vote on June 28th. Please circle # 81 on your ballot.
Thank you, Sue Ellen Loyzelle
All information on this page was submitted by the candidate