Victoria Golden-Thompson

Running for City Commissioners City of Bowling Green

Age: 52

Occupation: Military Family Life Counselor

Relevant experience: I have lived in Bowling Green most of my life graduating from Warren Central and WKU. I have an undergraduate degree in Mass Communications and Master’s Degrees in Sociology and Counseling. I have also taken coursework in Post Secondary Education Administration, passing the comprehensive exams, but did not finish my dissertation. I have worked in nonprofit for the majority of my professional career, managing budgets, people, and serving the people in our community. I have also volunteered with various organizations including The Governor’s Commission on Community Service and Volunteerism, The Bowling Green International Festival and CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates). Having worked with people from all walks of life in our community, I have gained knowledge and experience that have helped me identify areas of strength and areas of improvement in Bowling Green. I have a strong work ethic. I will listen to your concerns. You are as much a part of this community as anyone else and your issues are issues for the City. My blend of education and experience makes me a good candidate for City Commission. I will work for you and I will be your voice

What is your platform?

* Term Limits for Commissioners

* Fairness Ordinance

* Universal Tenant Rights

* Education Assistance

* No New Taxes

* Transparency

* Stop rezoning of agricultural lands to build apartments, businesses, etc.

If elected, what would be your top priorities?

I am the only candidate seeking term limits for City Commissioners. I believe in diversity; diversity of thought, of people, of actions.

Term limits provide a means for diversity. Incumbents tend to have an advantage over challengers due to name recognition. Term limits will allow for new ideas, new people, and the opportunity for new direction to occur for our people and our community. No one person has all the answers or all the knowledge for making decisions. We need diversity among the leadership and a schedule of leadership change to develop the best ideas and make the best progress.

I believe everyone should be treated fairly. And I believe we don’t always live up to our ideal self or ideal society. So, to help us be the best we can be, we need to put our goals in writing. For Bowling Green we need the Fairness Ordinance so that everyone knows we will treat everyone fairly and will not discriminate. We also need the Universal Tenant Rights so that everyone will be treated well in the area of housing. Again, everyone should be treated well in regard to housing. Lease agreements should be standard and should not contain waivers that leave the tenant at a disadvantage.

We also need to help our students find a career path that is self –supporting. The Work Ready Kentucky Scholarship should be expanded to universities. There should also be an expansion of the Health Service Corps Scholarships. Students should have good jobs waiting for them and not be drowning in student loan debt upon graduation. Locally, there should be more effort to connect students with positions in their field prior to graduation.

We have seen in the past where taxes have been introduced and passed without proper discussion and without input from the community. I am against any new taxes. If the current growth and expansion cannot support itself, then we need to stop and rethink the plan. Current tax revenues should be able to support the infrastructure.

Transparency should go without saying, but unfortunately the current Commission has not been transparent and discourages honest exchange of information and ideas. Community comments have been moved to the end of the meetings after voting has taken place. Resolutions are passed on the first reading before the community is aware of an issue. Meetings are held at 4:30 pm when many people are still at work. These political moves have stifled communication between the Commissioners and the community.

We also need to stop rezoning agricultural and other land to build more apartments and housing developments. While it is true Bowling Green is growing, I am not sure if we can support all the new construction. The market will go through a self correction at some point and I do not want a glut of empty housing as a result. This would not be beneficial for our community. A recession is predicted in late 2019 and without high employment at good wages, housing suffers and it damages the overall economy. I am already seeing places advertising “free month’s rent” which tells me there is more housing than people. We need to stop the expansion until we know there is a need to continue expansion.