Meet the Candidate: Emily Tate for Beckley City Council – Ward 3

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your experience/accomplishments

I’ve been a resident of Raleigh County for over 40 years and have lived in Beckley for 20 plus years. After school I started my career as a florist. After marriage I worked seasonally for the Bureau of Unemployment programs as an Interviewer, and then worked several retail jobs including as an operational manager for Ulta in between raising my three children. I now travel all over the state as a merchandiser for Apollo while raising my granddaughter.

What motivated you to run for city council, or if you are an incumbent, what motivated you to seek reelection?

As a mother and grandmother, I want to leave the world a better place for not just my children but for everyone’s. After hearing about the issues with the New River Park Pool and seeing the other issues with infrastructure and city services, I wanted to be proactive and find a way to improve how the city runs and how funds are used. I landed on becoming a council member because it felt to me the best place to help the residents of my ward be heard and receive the help needed.

What are some issues facing Beckley currently that you would like to see addressed and fixed? How would you fix those issues?

I would like to see the City of Beckley listen more to what we the citizens are saying and asking for. There is a lack of transparency with our existing government that needs to be changed. We need to update our infrastructure, especially sidewalks that many people use to walk to work. Many are crumbling and so narrow that if you have a stroller or cart you have to step into the road to pass other people or the telephone poles in the middle. We are now located near the newest National Park, that alone will attract new people to the area and we are not prepared for the extra burden on roads, schools, and housing. We also do not have the facilities needed for our own residents to use including the pools in the area that seem to never be fully staffed and need serious maintenance. I would like to see more recreational options for not just everybody but our youth so that they have activities to keep them safe and help them have community and socialization. A good childhood can help prevent them from becoming the next panhandler or homeless person. We need to have preventative services so that we can lessen the number of individuals that need rehab or end up committing crime.

What makes you stand out from the rest of the candidates, what do you bring to the table that they don’t?

I was shocked to find out I’m the youngest candidate running for my ward. As such I believe I might be a little more up to date on new technologies and policies that work for a 21st century city. It seems we’ve been stuck in 1986 for way too long. I think we need a fresh start with the City Council and newer voices across the board. No more good ol boys club, we have the chance to create a council that reflects Beckley and our community. I feel that not being a career politician is also a plus. In a lot of ways I am a clean slate with no personal agenda other than helping Beckley be a better place for all of us.

Is there anything else voters should know about you and your campaign?

I am completely self funded so that if I’m elected I am not working for anyone but the people of my ward and what they need.