Meet Caroline Belleci, Candidate For University Place City Council

Caroline A. Belleci

Where do you work and what is your job title? 

Pierce County Community Connections, Program Specialist

When and Where Were You Born?

1959, Germany

Where do you live now and  how long have you lived there?

University Place, 25 years

Spouse or domestic partner if any: 

Spouse - Tony

Children:

Vincent & Derrick

Education (include graduation date(s), if any):

BA – University of Puget Sound (1981)

AA – Western Oklahoma State College (1979)

Military Service (include year(s) of discharge, if any): 

N/A

Memberships and affiliations with clubs and other organizations:

N/A

Have you or a business you owned (or had principal interest in) ever filed bankruptcy? 

NO

As an adult, have you been convicted or charged with a crime other than a minor traffic violation?

NO

CAMPAIGN INFORMATION:

Web site: www.carolinebelleci.com

Email address:  cbelleci@gmail.com

Phone number: 253-389-9517

Campaign manager: N/A

Campaign manager contact information:        

PREVIOUS ELECTED OFFICE(S):

Elected: N/A

Other campaigns for public office:

N/A

THIS CAMPAIGN:

What is the primary reason you are running for this office?

I am running for city council because of my love for this city, my deep commitment to community service and my desire to make this community a strong and vibrant community to live and work. I will use my extensive community volunteer experience and knowledge of the community’s Comprehensive Plan to focus on moving the community and citizens of University Place forward by concentrating on Public Safety, Economic Development and ensuring a balanced budget to meet both community needs and debt obligations.

What will be your top three priorities if you get elected and why? 

Economic Development: To expand our local tax base to meet our debt obligations and fund essential community services, we must focus our attention on supporting our current businesses, attracting new businesses to University Place and providing jobs for our citizens. We must restore city government to a sound fiscal footing by ensuring that growth brings increased revenues to the city without impacting negatively on our single family neighborhoods. We must actively recruit businesses from all sectors, not just retail and facilitate opportunities for business to outreach to the community and prosper. Success in our business community ensures the ability to provide the services desired by our community.

Public Safety: Government’s number one priority is public safety. Police services must receive continued support through full funding. A safe community is what is attractive to both families and businesses. This ensures long range business success and the ability to grow our economic base through higher sales taxes collections and increased services to our citizens.

Infrastructure: Roads and parks improve the quality of life and property values of the community and priority must be given to maintaining existing facilities through creative means such as grants and effective partnerships.

What sets you apart from the other candidates and/or previous office holders? 

I have a very strong sense of community and my role as a public servant and volunteer. I have spent the past 17+ years volunteering for a variety of committees and commissions. This has provided me with the knowledge needed to interpret regulations, listen to citizens and be able to think long range and make decisions that will benefit the community as a whole.

City Council (Feb 2010 – Present)

• Council representative to the Pierce County Regional Council
• Reduced council salaries & benefits to add a Police Investigator to the police force
• Ensured debt obligations are met and balanced the budget without further reduction in services to the community

City of University Place Planning Commission (1995 – 2010)

• Worked with community to develop Comprehensive Plan to protect single family to comply with State mandated Growth Management Act
• Developed the Zoning and Planning codes working in cooperation with citizens and business members

Other (County & State)

• Pierce County - 1994-1996 – Chambers Bay Master Site Plan Committee resulting in the approved Master Site Plan
• State of Washington - 2007 – 2010 – Appointed and served as Vice Chair of the Tacoma Narrows Citizens Advisory Committee and developed the policies and procedures for tolling on the Tacoma Narrows Bridge to ensure debt obligations are meet
•  Member of the incorporation campaign

General Volunteer Activities

• UP Festival, Tree Lighting, Cider Squeeze, Duck Parade, numerous other City activities
• NJROTC Booster Club

How much money do you expect your campaign to spend on this election? 

As little as possible by being thoughtful and strategic with the campaign contributions I do receive.

Official endorsements: 

Pierce County Deputy Sheriff’s Independent Guild

And numerous community businesses and citizens