Patricia Kleinmaier
Residential address: 5611 Whipporwill Drive,Pfafftown, 27040
Incumbent or challenger? Challenger
Age: 64
Campaign website or blog: Facebook: Kleinmaier for North Ward Winston-Salem
Occupation and employer: Retired; co-owner of the Peanut Shack
Previous elective experience(including election campaigns): None
Civic and volunteerexperience (including service on local government commissions and boards): Winston-Salem/Forsyth CountyTea Party Patriots, Republican Party volunteer, Cancer Services of Winston-Salem
Education (highest degreeattained and name of institution): Associate’s degree in science, Indiana University
Party registration: Republican
Where were you born? Logansport, Ind.
What year did you move to Winston-Salem? 1979
Paid consultants working oncampaign: None
Campaign manager: None
Treasurer: Jennifer LaMar
Articles about thiscandidate:
• Urban circulator, jobs and regional competition mark fault lines between candidates (link)
The majority of Winston-Salem CityCouncil declined to intervene in Kalvin Michael Smith’s federal petition for anew trial although citizens have requested that the city take responsibilityfor a flawed police investigation that arguably undermined the judicial processleading to Smith’s conviction in the brutal beating of Jill Marker. What isyour position on this matter?
I believe this case has beensettled in a court of law and the city should not intervene.
Do you support the proposed UrbanCirculator (streetcar or enhanced bus) that would connect Baptist Hospital andEast Winston through downtown? Please explain why or why not.
I do not think this is a gooduse of money both by the city or the federal government. We already have atransportation system that is not used as it should be.
City council has focused on revitalizingdowntown over the past 10 years, most recently approving the firstentertainment district in the city. Should the city continue to promoteintensification of shared commercial and residential uses in downtown or slowgrowth to protect existing businesses and homeowners?
I feel all areas of Winston-Salemshould be promoted not just the downtown area. For all the money that has beenpumped in to the down town area there are still blocks of abandoned buildingsthat ruin the entire effect.
While downtown is vibrant and beautiful,areas to the immediate north and east are uninviting, underdeveloped and lackingin pedestrian-scale retail amenities. What, if anything, should be done toextend the vitality of downtown into outlying areas?
As the representative of theNorth Ward I would like to see a lot more development coming our way. We havehad little to none new building of either housing or businesses. We need more residential areas to bringmore tax revenue into the city.
What role should city council play in theBusiness 40 improvement project, including recommendations for trafficalignment through downtown when the project is completed?
I am not familiar with theplans being put forth by the city transportation/planning board regarding this.
What is your position on the use ofincentives to promote economic development? If you support incentives, why? Ifnot, what other tools does city government have for promoting job growth?
I am not a big proponent ofincentives or loans to private businesses. Promoting our city as a good placeto live and work should be enough. We have some of the best hospitals anduniversities in the country, which should be bringing plenty of businesses tothis area if our taxes were not so high.
What is your proudest achievement?
I am very proud of my twobeautiful daughters and the four wonderful grandchildren they have given me. Itnever ceases to amaze me that with everything else I did my kids turned out tobe good, self-supporting citizens.
What’s your favorite way to unwind inWinston-Salem?
My husband and I like toexplore thrift shops, consignment stores and local businesses.
