Terri Fitzwater-Palmore

• Running for: Mayor
• Age: 44
• Occupation: Executive director of Habitat for Humanity
• Community Roots: Born in Milton, Fla., but has lived in Pulaski since 1986
• Affiliations: Served in U.S. Navy for 16 years, both active duty and in the reserves; commissioner of Pulaski Redevelopment and Housing Authority; recreational and AAU basketball coach for 22 years; family support coordinator for Virginia National Guard 229th; member of First United Methodist Church, Planting America Campaign, Housing Partnership for the New River Valley, Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce and Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce; and past president of Pulaski County Jaycees, Pulaski Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization and Montgomery County Human Resources Committee
• Education: Christiansburg High School graduate, earned bachelor’s degree in social science from Bluefield State College in 1992 with a minor in political science

Election index

• Other candidates in the NRV answer your questions

Why should voters vote for you to serve as Pulaski’s mayor?

Terri Fitzwater-Palmore: I’ve worked with the community since I moved here in 1986. I feel like I know the people and would be able to represent them in a fair manner. I have 15 years of experience at bringing a diverse group of people together to work toward a common goal. I’ve got managerial experience, and I truly believe in Pulaski and its people and I know I can make a difference.

Rhonda Hodge of Pulaski asks: “What will you do to help the economy in Pulaski and bring in more tourism and business?”

TFP: We need to create an effective economic development plan and market our town aggressively. We need to publicize the good things about Pulaski and make it so businesses want to come here by developing programs such as tax incentives, waiver water-sewer hook-ups and promoting our workforce. But we also have to be able to develop the full circle, not just with businesses but we’re going to have to have restaurants for people to eat, things for people to do, services such as senior services, recreation services, unique events, anything that’s going to complete the circle for them to come into town. We also need to provide housing opportunities.

What do you see your role as mayor being, asks town resident Jennifer White.

TFP: Bringing people together to work as one team for the betterment of the community as whole.

Kathy Denny of Pulaski wants to know: How do you plan to work with nonprofits to combat the drug and alcohol problem in the community?

TFP: Well, considering I have 15 years of nonprofit experience and have already established relationships with the nonprofits in the area, it will be important to bring everyone on board in a collaborative effort. ... Since August of 2007 we have had a death of six kids under the age of 27. We know several of them were drug-related, that it’s occurring. So to do something about this, what I’ve done is I’ve created a group of individuals from different churches and we’re coming together — hopefully I’ll have it all together by the end of May — and what I’m asking them to do is adopt one kid out on the streets and adopt the whole family and work with that child. ... It’s got to be everybody together, it’s got to be the whole community, all the nonprofits and the churches and volunteers. That’s just too important. That’s our future. ... We can address these issues through our police departments and working in partnership with the county government.