12/09/2025
It's been an honor to serve Waxhaw! This was my final speech presented at the Nov. 10 Board of Commissioner meeting. You can read it here, or listen at the 1 hr. 50 minute mark.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8Ypb86NP0w&t=4538s
"When I look back at my palm cards from my elections in 2017 and 2021, I’m filled with pride, not just for the town, but for the incredible team that worked to turn those goals into a lasting legacy. For eight years, we set out to achieve specific things, and I’m proud to report that those goals were met.
One of my core commitments was to strongly support Waxhaw-owned small businesses and entrepreneurs. We didn’t just talk about it—we built a framework for success.
Throughout my terms, I was deeply supportive of the Main Street program. The town received multiple accolades, including the Award of Merit in 2022 and 2024, and we celebrated a Main Street Champion in 2025. In 2022, we took the next step, forming the Downtown Waxhaw Association (DWA), where I have proudly served as a board representative. Today, Waxhaw is a vibrant destination with thriving businesses. That is a success story for all of us.
I promised support for smart growth development—the right fit for our town. I’m happy to say that every major decision was anchored in the 10 Principles of Smart Growth.
During the challenging times of COVID-19, the board, under Mayor Ron Pappas and the incredible staff led by Jeff Wells, took on the challenge of writing a new Land Development Code. We tightened our ordinances to require better design standards, protected greenspace with a mandatory 30% tree save, and implemented requirements for parks, trails, greater buffers, and traffic mitigations. This work ensured that as our town grew, it grew smarter, more responsibly, and in a way that preserved our character.
We also focused on the physical improvements that enhance daily life:
A More Pedestrian-Friendly Town: Through grants like the TAP grant, we improved downtown sidewalks, safety features and parking. We’ve secured grants to improve and extend the Carolina Thread Trail and established a separate Pedestrian Fund specifically dedicated to new sidewalks and trails. We created the first Capital Improvement Plan for completing much needed projects.
Parks and Recreation: Early in my first term, we approved the first Parks Master Plan. While I never expected it, the previous board succeeded in building the beautiful Downtown Park. We also seized the opportunity to purchase and renovate the Rec Barn, significantly expanding our programming space.
A New Town Campus: After 15 years of different boards talking about building a new public service building and town hall, our board completed the new Town Campus —a project I honestly never thought we’d see through to completion during my tenure.
The Learning Center: We advocated successfully to keep the Waxhaw Library presence here. After it moved, we funded the Learning Center in the old library building, slated to open in February. This will continue to provide the services used by the local residents.
Earlier this year I partnered with Chief Wilson to update the animal welfare ordinances to protect the living conditions of domestic animals.
The four years of the Pappas board were truly one of the best and worst times of my life. We were a cohesive team, and the staff felt like family, but during Covid I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020. Our interactions were only through Zoom meetings, but I will never forget the incredible support I received from my Waxhaw family during that period.
That same spirit of teamwork and camaraderie earned Waxhaw the 2023 Top Workplace Award from the Charlotte Observer.
To Jeff Wells and every single member of his Waxhaw staff, including those who have since moved on. Thank you. You are the engine that achieved these goals. You are truly the best at what you do, and I will miss working with you. I do believe you will continue to have the same success with the new town manager, Scott Dadson.
The success we achieved is the very reason Waxhaw grew, nearly doubling in size from a population of 15,000 to 24,000 during my tenure. Unfortunately, with that growth came a toxic cultural shift.
We went from being a town of warm Southern hospitality to a town full of online hatred and bullying. This behavior was directed at the very people who were dedicated to making this town so great that others wanted to move here. To be called corrupt, liars, witch, crazy, disgraceful human beings, frauds, cheaters. And even worse, to have the same things said about our family members. It’s unacceptable.
Never in my life did I think that public service in Waxhaw would require being escorted out of Town Hall by Police or needing officers to regularly drive by our homes due to stalking, cyberbullying, and harassment—instigated and encouraged by members of this board and community.
That is not the Waxhaw my family moved to, and it is why I decided not to run again and am choosing to focus my time and energy on my successful career and my family. My peace is not worth the price of this kind of service.
To the board I served with —Brenda McMillon, Jason Hall, Ron Pappas, Ann Simpson, and Pedro Morrey: we were all strangers, each elected on our own individual merits, who later became a powerful team with shared goals. Thank you for showing the world what a great board can accomplish when they stand together.
To all my supporters. You are the reason I ran, and the reason I stayed. Thank you for your encouragement and kind messages when things were tough, always reminding me that we had more support than we realized.
To the citizens of Waxhaw: the three of us helped create something wonderful over the past eight years. The very reason many of you decided to move here. And to those who focused their energy on tearing down the people helping to build this wonderful town: I hope in time, as you enjoy the parks and trails, the downtown and events, the parkway when it is completed, you will realize the great things we accomplished. It is now your responsibility to make sure the future board continues to protect the quality of life and displays an honorable tone of discourse. Our legacy is secured here … and it will speak for itself. I am very proud I was able to be a part of it!" See you around town!
Agenda HTML: https://waxhaw.civicweb.net/filepro/documents/240840?handle=641CF70318B34C928DF61574E5B27957Agenda PDF: https://waxhaw.civicweb.net/filepro/docu...
