Jonathan Torres, 32, is running to become the next Mayor of the Town of Occoquan.
He’s running against incumbent Mayor Liz Quist.
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Torres said traffic is an issue in the tiny riverfront town. And so is taxes and businesses, according to the candidate.
Potomac Local sent a questionnaire to Torres as part of our annual Project:Election series for the upcoming May 3, 2016 towns elections in Prince William County. Here are his responses:
PL: Why should Occoquan residents be excited to vote for you?
Torres: Residents are excited to vote for me because my campaign has been about voicing their concerns and ideas. My campaign slogan “your town – your voice” sums up what my campaign is all about. I believe that our elected representatives should always be the voice of those they represent. My campaign for Mayor has never been about my idea of what our town should be but rather a reflection of the ideas, concerns and wishes of residents, business owners and visitors of our town.
PL: In your own words, what is the job description of a Town Council member? What expertise will you bring to the position?
Torres: I believe the job description of a Mayor is to officially speak on behalf of the town and the residents (to be the voice of the people and to work to resolve concerns and advance issues that are important to the residents). As an experienced Public Servant I bring a host of expertise to this position some of which include:
o Worked as a Legislative Aid where I successfully coordinated disaster relief efforts after a string of crippling hurricanes in 2005
o Served as a Planning Commissioner in Winter Haven, FL (a city with a population of over 27,000 residents and more than 25 square miles) where I successfully worked to bring compromise between citizens and developers in order to assure projects were completed on time and with the support of all stakeholders
o Was awarded an Achievement Medal in 2008 for “outstanding service to the citizens of the District of Columbia” as a Washington D.C. Metropolitan Police Officer
My extensive private sector and budgeting experience has also provided me a strong foundation to do well.
o Has over eight years’ experience successfully developing and administering a budget significantly larger than Occoquan’s yearly budget o Has worked in his family business to help build a successful local company that has created over 200 jobs right here in Occoquan’s backyard
o Has skillfully managed a budget where he has not only held the line on expenditures but also returned surplus funds for eight consecutive years
o Has successfully negotiated contracts with vendors to lower operational costs and insure the most return on each dollar
PL: What are the biggest issues and needs residents of the Town of Occoquan? What will you do to address those needs?
Torres: 1) Parking, cut-through traffic and pedestrian safety. Residents, business owners and visitors alike list this issue as a top priority item. The town has included these items in their comprehensive plan as well. I believe we have the resources on hand today to help reduce cut-through traffic which will also aid in pedestrian safety. As Mayor I would ask our town police officer to be more visible during morning and afternoon rush hours. The mere presence of a police cruiser and officer will certainly slow down the traffic and deter many from cutting through town. To help resolve some of the parking problems we have, I will work with the owners of vacant and underutilized downtown property to encourage more utilization of these areas.
2) Attract and Keep More Business: I will work with current business owners to better understand the unique challenges they face and how the town can assist with making business easier. I believe town hall should not serve as road block or headache to business owners but rather a helpful tool that aids in the success of our local businesses.
3) Hold the line on taxes I will oppose any additional tax increase that does not have at least a simple majority support from residents and business owners.
4) Capitalize on Community Assets Occoquan is beautiful historic town that draws countless visitors every year. As Mayor I will work tirelessly to promote Occoquan and the beautiful waterfront areas that we call home. I’m particularly interested in introducing more annual events to town and exploiting our beautiful waterfront areas.
PL: Have you ever made any mistakes in your public life? How have they affected you?
Torres: I believe everyone makes mistakes however, the key is to learn and grow from such mistakes. As a former Legislative Aid I believed I could solve every problem that came across my desk (that was a mistake). What I learned quickly was it is important to utilize all available resources and know when to seek help.
PL: Do you feel that the average citizen is well informed and understands the workings of town government? If not, how do you intend on improving communication with your constituency?
Torres: Occoquan residents are very well educated and in general have an idea of what’s going on in town. As Mayor it will be my priority to keep town residents informed and engaged in what is happening at town hall. Occoquan residents live busy lives and are not always going to have the time stop by town hall or attend a meeting and for that reason I plan on taking many of the issues directly to them (even if that means stopping by their home or making a phone call).
