Terre: Businesses must ‘survive and then thrive’
David Terre is no stranger to the challenges facing The Colony. The 14-year resident has not only served four years on the Planning and Zoning Commission but also ran for mayor two years ago.
Now, he is running for Place 4 on the city council. Terre is retired from a career with Wilson Sporting Goods spanning more than 40 years, where he served in various management positions both domestically and abroad, he said.
Coupled with his passion for the city, Terre believes he has the time it takes to be a good civil servant now that he is retired.
“I love The Colony and want to make it a better place to live by serving as an effective councilman,” he said. “I also believe it’s essential to have the time needed to do the job right. Having retired from Wilson, I now have the necessary time.”
Terre states his experience on P&Z has helped him comprehend how the city functions. He also is a Chamber of Commerce Ambassador, which he stated affords him plenty of interaction with the business community.
Alongside his experience, Terre promotes his interpersonal skills as vital elements of his campaign.
“The keys to my success have always been personal integrity, people skills, organized approach, common sense and hard work,” Terre said. “I am also a good listener and always respond to phone calls or emails within 24 hours.”
Terre stated the keys to the city’s success can be found not only in the recruitment of new businesses but also by encouraging the public to support local businesses.
“I believe the No. 1 issue facing the city is helping the current businesses survive and then thrive, and also bringing in the right mix of new businesses,” he said. “I’m a firm believer in the saying, ‘as Main Street goes, so goes the city.’ We must do a better job of educating the general public about the importance of spending our [money] in The Colony where the sales tax goes directly into our city budget. I would love to spearhead a city partnership with the business community to develop and promote an annual ‘Shop The Colony’ event.’
Terre stated the city should do all it can to make it simple for residents to spend their money in The Colony. In other words, “we need to greatly increase business in The Colony so we can shift more of the tax burden from home owner property tax to sales tax revenue,” he said.
To that end, Terre states he likes what the current city council has done in lowering property tax and water utilities rates while still maintaining adequate rainy day funds.
“Raising taxes in the future is not an option,” Terre said, adding that the city should continue going through the annual budget process with an eye toward making sure money is allocated in terms of need and priority. “We must spend city tax dollars as if it was our own money,” he said.
Looking toward the future, Terre stated it should be a priority for the city to think about a future “city center” on property bordering Lewisville Lake.
“Its time to begin the process of moving City Hall from the old Food Lion building to a city center surrounded by blended development,” he said.
Regarding Main Street reconstruction, Terre outlined his “recipe for success,” which includes keeping everyone informed on the progress; working with businesses to ensure they have the right to post adequate signage so their customers can find them; insisting on construction plans that grant customers access to businesses; and holding contractors to concurred deadlines.
“When completed, it will be worth it. Without dramatic road improvements residents would be choked in endless traffic jams. Main Street and other heavily travelled roads in The Colony must be able to carry the capacity resulting from the growth we are experiencing,” Terre said.
Terre is married to his wife, Renee, and has two children: Mike is a small business owner living in Little Elm, while Jennifer and her husband, Jack, are the parents of Terre’s two grandchildren, Tatum, 9, and Brock, 6.
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Submited at Monday, May 9th, 2011 at 2:00 am on Uncategorized by sofia
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