Q&A With Weare Gratwick, 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 we posed was to ask each candidate ask and answer his or her own question.

Here Patch introduces Weare Gratwick, one of four candidates seeking to fill the council seat for Post 6.

Name: R. Weare Gratwick, age 51.

How long lived in city: 16 years.

Educational background: BBA Accounting - Emory University; MBA Finance - Georgia State University.

Military background: N/A.

Family: Amber and I have been married for almost 24 years. We have two daughters; Sarah Ann, a junior at Norcross High School and Lydia, a 7th grader at Pinckneyville Middle School.

Occupation: I have been in banking for 28 years with experience in retail, commercial banking and residential real estate lending.

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

My educational background in accounting and finance means that I can apply those skills to my work on the Council to ensure accountability, fiscal responsibility and transparency. My banking background has trained me to be a good listener.   

This is new territory for all of us and it will be important for the new Council to listen to the citizens they represent. My service in the Peachtree Corners community through the Norcross High School Foundation, Norcross Baseball and Softball, Norcross Soccer Academy and the Peachtree Station Homeowners Board has provided the opportunity to work with many of my neighbors toward a common good. Those contacts and experiences will be valuable to me as a Council member.

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

Peachtree Corners today is a remarkable community. There are many factors that led each of us to establish our homes and lives here. This should not change. The primary focus of the city government should be on providing local control on zoning issues and code enforcement so that the Peachtree Corners we love today will remain that way for future generations.

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

The immediate challenge of successfully implementing a new form of local government is the greatest task in front of us.“City light” is a unique concept.    How we the citizens of Peachtree Corners turn that concept into a reality will be watched closely. I believe Peachtree Corners will provide a model for how local citizens can work with a larger government entity to maximize local control without the burden of providing all necessary government services.   

I believe my educational training; banking experience and track record of successful involvement in this community will add value to a successful transition. Paul Duke’s vision for a live work play community in Peachtree Corners was a novel idea at the time. The citizens of Peachtree Corners have an opportunity to further advance that vision and set a model for future communities.

What do you feel are the primary responsibilities of the City Council?

The Council’s role will be to ensure that the proposed city is delivered in the manner proposed. As a council member, part of my responsibility will be to make certain city management is put in place within budget and that the city continues to foster a positive relationship with Gwinnett County to ensure the best combination of local and county services. The initial Council must also position the city to address future zoning issues through planning, coordination and open communication with residents, business owners and developers.

Campaign website: http://weareforpeachtreecorners.com/