Teri James wants back on 91原创 City council.
The 53-year-old executive director of the Downtown 91原创 Business Association picked up her nomination papers Thursday, having spent the better part of the past year pondering if she should, in fact, run again.
James was on council for three terms, from 2005 to 2014. But in the last municipal election, she opted not to run.
鈥淭he only reason I stepped back was to spend more time with family,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut being away from it for the last four years has also made me realize that this is where my heart is at. I love this community and want to be part of the decision making.鈥�
Social issues are an 鈥渋ncreasing concern鈥� in 91原创 City, said James. That includes homelessness, crime, traffic and transportation, plus there鈥檚 what she described as 鈥渇ragile infrastructure鈥� in need 鈥淭LC,鈥� a growing need for more family-oriented affordable housing options, and the execution of a newly released long-term community vision that ensures quality of life for City residents.
These are among the primary motivators behind her choosing to run again, James told the 91原创 Advance.
鈥淪ome people are just cut out to do this, and I believe I鈥檓 one of those people,鈥� she added.
鈥淢y reasons for doing so are vast鈥� I love this community, and I know the next four years are pivotal 鈥� extremely important 鈥� and I want to be a part of it,鈥� James said, anxious to 鈥渂e transparent鈥� that she鈥檚 not currently a 91原创 City resident.
Two years ago, when she and her husband Bob sold their single-family home, and downsizing they started hunting for a large townhouse in the City.
They couldn鈥檛 find one, and settled, instead, just across the border in Cloverdale. But James said, the hunt in 91原创 City continues daily.
鈥淭he instant we find it, we鈥檙e back,鈥� she said of a townhouse big enough for their 鈥渞ather large鈥� family.
James is not the only former council member seeking to return in the October municipal election.
Former mayor Peter Fassbender has thrown his hat in the ring, too. Again, he鈥檚 seeking the mayor鈥檚 chair.
Asked if his decision to run had anything to do with the timing of her proclamation, James said 鈥渘o.鈥�
鈥淢atter of fact, my decision was made long time before Peter announced,鈥� she said.
But asked if she had been thinking about running for the mayor鈥檚 chair, James said 鈥測es,鈥� but not yet.
鈥淎t some point I will consider running for mayor 鈥� in the future. That is actually a long-term goal for me,鈥� she said.
鈥淔our years from now, there鈥檚 definitely potential, for sure. It鈥檚 definitely on my horizon. I would very much like to enter that role,鈥� James added.
But, she figured having been away from City council for the past four years, she 鈥渙wed myself and this community the opportunity to get back on 91原创 City council, and make sure I鈥檓 completely caught up to speed, because there鈥檚 no question things have changed.鈥�
In addition to her duties with the DLBA and the Discover 91原创 City tourism entity, she鈥檚 also a volunteer with a number of community organizations and events, plus she has sat on a variety of City committees and task forces.
鈥淚鈥檝e never stopped being passionate about the future of this community,鈥� she said. 鈥淲hat I will bring to the table is a voice, an ear, I鈥檓 trustworthy, I don鈥檛 make any promises that I can鈥檛 keep, and I鈥檓 also extremely level headed, so I think I would be a valuable asset on 91原创 City council.鈥�
