Meet the Candidates: Terry Nall, Post 4, District 1 At Large Challenger

Dunwoody’s general election will be held Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2011, and four seats on the city council will be open this fall. In their words, candidates will be introducing themselves here at Patch. Today, we profile Post 4 (District 1 At Large) candidate Terry Nall, who is one of two challengers seeking to unseat incumbent Robert Wittenstein:

Age:

53

Neighborhood:

Vernon North

Position Sought:

City Council At-Large Post 4 (from District 1)

Current Job/Company:

President of U.S. insurance subsidiary for Deutsche Bank Private Wealth Management

Education:

Wake Forest University, B.S. in Accounting; Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Trust and Financial Advisor (CTFA), and Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS)

How long have you lived in Dunwoody:

13 years

Community organizations:

*Vernon North neighborhood:  Successfully led property rights fight against incompatible adjacent business development.

*Dunwoody Homeowners Association: Board Member

*Dunwoody Village Master Plan Sounding Board

*Fire and Rescue task force leading up to “Dunwoody Yes” campaign

*St. Luke’s Presbyterian Church:  Elder, Clerk of Session, Youth Advisor, and Chair of Personnel Committee

*Boy Scout Troop 764:  Treasurer, adult leader, and Eagle Scout, as is son Adam.

*Tartan Trot 5K/10K fundraiser for Youth missions

*Habitat for Humanity

*Presbytery of Greater Atlanta:  Chair, Committee on Ministry

*Presbyterian Church (USA) Investment & Loan Program:  National Board Member

Your platform:

Key Principle:  Small, efficient, disciplined government with accountability.

Key Positions:

• Taxes:  Keep taxes low and protect against risks and excessive debt
• Police:  Maintain appropriate level of police protection.
• Growth:  Measured and balanced approach to growth and development
• Parks:  Enhance parks incrementally with budgeted funds
• Streets:  Stick to a plan of paving the worst first.

Other than the people, what is the best part of Dunwoody:

Small town feel with big city opportunities.

What are the two biggest issues facing Dunwoody:

Disciplined Spending:  Needs must come before wants.  We must carefully budget and avoid decisions to spend when we do not fully understand all actual costs.  If elected, I will be the only active CPA serving on City Council and am unfazed by an emotional "sense of urgency".

Zoning:  This next City Council will conduct a total re-write of our Zoning Code.  This is a pivotal project that will affect Dunwoody and especially our commercial areas for decades to come.  If elected, I will insist on including the best zoning tools to achieve a measured approach to growth by increasing our tax base without overwhelming our infrastructure and schools with high-density development.

What is something people may not know about you?

I worked as a Fire/EMS dispatcher to pay my way through college, as well as trained and volunteered as an EMT for the local rescue squad.  This prior experience remains helpful today on issues of public safety.