.png)
Jennifer Stepp's Platform
As a public servant of Gastonia, I believe in the potential of this city that we get to call,
“home”. I want to help build a city where we all can feel proud to live, work, play, and
raise our families. Together, we can create lasting change that benefits everyone. As
your City Council member, I am committed to making Gastonia a place where every
resident has the opportunity to thrive.
My priority will continue to focus on ensuring that our city is run as efficiently and
effectively as possible. I bring experience gained throughout my career not only as a
council member but also as a board member of several nonprofit organizations. I
believe that Gastonia has been well served by those of us who have dedicated
ourselves to learning each facet of our city, how tax dollars are spent, how employees
can best serve our city, monitoring the budget, and making the tough decisions
necessary to benefit our community.
I believe that the cornerstone of every community must be a focus on public safety. It is
vitally important for every citizen to feel secure in their home, at work, at school, and in
the community. I have worked closely with our police and fire departments to ensure
that they are equipped and prepared to protect and serve all of our citizens.
Additionally, I look forward to continuing to work to improve our city’s infrastructure,
economic development, public transportation, and parks and recreational amenities
if given the opportunity with your vote of confidence.
I believe experience matters and I am confident that I am the candidate who brings
the dedication, discipline, experience, and ability to make
crucial decisions for the long-term success of Gastonia.
Platform Breakdown - Why Experience Matters
LEADERSHIP THAT LISTENS
I believe that every citizen deserves to be heard and to have a meaningful part in shaping the future of our city. I have proven this by keeping my promise to be available and accessible. I have built a reputation for being responsive as I have always returned emails and phone calls and listened to concerns before taking action and finding solutions. I have used my vote to create opportunities for all perspectives to be heard and ensure everyone has a voice in the decisions that impact our community.
BUDGETS
Throughout my career and as a board member of nonprofit organizations I have worked with budgets of all sizes consistently practicing fiscal responsibility. I have made practical and informed decisions to manage funds and resources wisely (even bringing an organization from the brink of bankruptcy to a once again thriving entity).
During my time on the City Council I have helped balance budgets over a quarter of a billion dollars. I have worked to root out wasteful spending and make necessary cuts while preserving the funding to run the city proficiently. I am proud to have worked to lower the tax rate to the lowest level Gastonia has seen in twenty years.
UTILITIES
I have worked hard to keep utility fees as low as possible by prioritizing needs and making wise and responsible decisions all while managing and upgrading aging infrastructure and continuing to provide quality services.
RESPONSIBLE GROWTH
Gastonia is growing at a fast pace, and I am committed to ensuring our growth is responsible and positive for the community. I am dedicated to making sure we don’t outgrow our infrastructure or the ability to deliver reliable services. I have worked to expand affordable housing options and have supported homebuyers assistance programs. I will continue to work for a diverse range of housing from affordable and workforce housing to middle class and executive homes so that all residents at every stage of life and income level can find a place to call home in our city.
ECONOMICAL DEVELOPMENT
Economic development is essential to a strong and thriving Gastonia. I am committed to attracting quality businesses to our city while supporting and growing our existing ones. These businesses bring higher paying jobs, expand our tax base, and help fund the services our residents rely on while reducing the burden on taxpayers.
I believe small businesses are the backbone of any community and will continue to support policies and incentives that help them succeed. I will work to bring job training and workforce development partnerships between businesses and our
local educational institutions. I have played a role in bringing large national and international companies to Gastonia. I was a part of launching two new business parks and I have personally reached out to several retail businesses and am continuing to advocate for them to choose Gastonia as their next home.
INFRASTRUCTURE
I believe a reliable and well-maintained infrastructure is essential for safety, quality of life, and responsible growth. I have consistently advocated for staying ahead of our growth by upgrading critical systems from expanding our water and sewer capacity to modernizing our water treatment plan with advanced filtration. I also supported converting our streetlights to LED lights to improve visibility and lower costs. And I have pushed for increased investment in road improvements across the city.
PUBLIC SAFETY
Public safety is a top priority because it is the foundation of a strong and stable community. I have worked closely with our police and fire departments to ensure they have the tools, training, and resources needed to keep our citizens safe.
I have supported innovative recruitment strategies and strengthened community policing in order to foster trust between officers and residents. I am proud to have helped bring a Real Time Crime Center to Gastonia and to have established a Civilian Crash Investigator program, allowing sworn officers to focus on higher priority calls.
I support initiatives that address mental health and addiction recognizing the important role public safety plays in overall community well-being. I will continue to work with public safety leaders to support practical and forward-thinking solutions that keep our city safe.
COMMUNITY BUILDING
I believe strong relationships create strong communities. During my years of service on the City Council and through involvement on various boards and committees, I have built relationships with regional, state, and federal leaders as well local leaders, neighborhood advocates, small business owners, and residents. These connections strengthen our city by allowing us to share ideas, learn from one another’s experiences, work collaboratively, and speak with a more unified voice on the issues that really matter.
I also believe our city is at its best when every citizen feels valued and heard. I have supported initiatives such as the Mayor’s Youth Council and the Young Adults of Gastonia Council. I helped launch the A. C. E. program – Alliance for Community Enrichment – and led the efforts in establishing the Gastonia Arts Committee and City of Gastonia Senior Council. I will continue to champion efforts that promote unity, celebrate diversity, and support community centers and public spaces that bring people together and foster connection and a sense of belonging. I believe in serving every person in every neighborhood because we all count.
FACILTIES & AMENITIES
I am committed to making sure Gastonia has exceptional community resources by investing in our facilities and amenities. During my time on the City Council, we have added new amenities including two parks, fifteen pickleball courts, and a swimming pool, we have renovated our recreation centers and community building, we have upgraded our playgrounds and many of our playing fields, and we have extended our greenway system. We have also increased the amount of public art throughout the city. This enhances each citizen's quality of life and strengthens our community. These spaces provide safe and welcoming places for families and individuals to gather, stay active, and connect. Investing in parks, recreation, and the arts not only promotes health and unity but also makes Gastonia a more attractive place to live, work, and raise a family.
PUBLIC TRANSIT
Public transportation is vital to a thriving and connected city. I played a key role in implementing Gastonia’s new microtransit system which replaced our outdated fixed bus routes. This modern approach is more efficient, equitable, and accessible, serving all areas of the city while making better use of our resources. I have also worked to advance regional transportation planning ensuring Gastonia is well positioned for smart growth and future connectivity across the region.