Jennifer Stepp

I have 8 years of experience serving on the City Council and have been responsible for balancing multi-million dollar budgets and have helped lower the tax rate to the lowest in 20 years while making sure we have the funding to provide reliable services. I have helped improve and expand our infrastructure while keeping our fees as low as possible and lower than most municipalities in the region. I have been a huge supporter of public safety and helped bring in new equipment and tools for our first responders and helped launch a Real Time Crime Center and a Drone as a First Responder Program. I have helped bring in over 5.5 million square feet of new industry and been a advocate for small business. I have help bring 2 new parks to our city and expand and remodel existing recreational facilities. I am an advocate for smart and responsible growth and working with developers to bring in all types of housing and make projects better than they have to be by asking for improvements or applying conditions. I helped launch our new micro-transit program - Go Gastonia and two new citizen committees - our new Arts Committee and our new Senior Council. I also represent gastonia on regional and state organizations.

I will continue to find ways to eliminate waste and make common sense budgeting decisions to keep our tax rate as low as possible but still provide reliable services and allow investment that will grow our city

38 years old/lived in Gastonia 8 yrs/ Non Profit Consultant/ works from home/ no political experience