Q&A With Jay Lowe, Peachtree Corners City Council Candidate

Peachtree Corners Patch asked the 20 candidates for the six council seats on the new Peachtree Corners City Council a series of questions relating to city government for the upcoming Municipal Election on March 6, 2012.

Each of the candidates were asked the same set of questions. The last question was to request each candidate ask and answer his or her own question.

Patch introduces Jay Lowe, one of two candidates seeking the council seat for Post 2.

Name: James C. "Jay" Lowe, III, age 41.

How long have your lived in Peachtree Corners: 12 years.

Educational background: Bachelor of Science – Business Administration (Finance), University of Tennessee; Wharton School of Business – Investment Management Consultants Association (IMCA), Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA).

Military background: N/A.

Family: Married, wife Jill is a Registered Nurse (RN). We have four daughters, Tatum, 9, Susanna, 7, Emerson, 5 and Carsen, 1.

Occupation: Entrepreneur and investment banker since 1994. Owns and operates Spincycle Sports Marketing and the Georgia Cup. I manage a professional team to promote and facilitate all aspects of outdoor events in cities and counties throughout Georgia. 

What experience in your background do you think has best prepared you for serving on the Peachtree Corners City Council?

I have started, owned and sold several profitable businesses as well as been a Senior Vice President for Wachovia Securities and Area Manager for a Dow 30 Blue Chip company. I have been a fiduciary for multimillion dollar Profit Sharing/Pension plans and high-net worth clients. 

As a certified investment management analyst, I created million dollar diversified equity portfolios based upon each client’s risk parameters and time horizons.  I currently own Spincycle Sports Marketing that has been profitable since 2002.  Through Spincycle Sports, I have worked and collaborated with mayors, city councils, county commissioners, fire chiefs, police chiefs, sheriffs, CVBs, DDAs, chambers of commerce, city managers and local government officials. 

With years of professional dealings, it has given me critical insights into many of Georgia’s most successful cities and counties. Having been in business through strong economic times and our current climate, I have developed a keen understanding and appreciation for fiscal responsibility. Planning and execution are key tools that I possess and will be vital to a successful city government. 

Tell Peachtree Corners readers about your vision for the new city and how you would accomplish it?

My goals revolve around a basic set of priorities:

• The people who live, work, and own businesses in Peachtree Corners are the people who can best identify our needs and set out future direction.
• Long-term planning serves us better than short-term reactivity.
• Fiscal responsibility is an absolute requirement.

Within that framework, here are my goals:

• Transparent communication.
• Thoughtful, fact-based, future-oriented and pragmatic decision-making.
• Preserving Peachtree Corners character.
• Maintain safe, clean environments for our families, children and seniors to enjoy.

What do you think is the greatest challenge facing Peachtree Corners, and how would you approach it?

Because Peachtree Corners is a brand new city, developing the infrastructure from the ground up will be paramount and will take persistence and dedication.  Utilizing my rich experiences in business development and management are imperative in both strategic planning and executing the formation of our new city.  To that end, whatever the challenge or obstacle, I have built the critical foundation to overcome each through more than 15 years of real world experiences.

What prompted you to run for Peachtree Corners City Council Post 2?

As the President of Peachtree Station Homeowners Association, long-term community involvement and my unique background in business development, leadership and management I felt I could make a positive difference.  I am proud to be a Peachtree Corners resident, business owner, father and candidate for city council. 

Follow my campaign at www.facebook.com/jaylowe4