Election 2020: Q&A with Smiths Station Council Place 5 candidates
.png "Victoria Green (left) and Diane Holman-Stein (right) are running for the Smiths Station Council Place 5 seat in the Aug. 25, 2020, municipal election.")
To help Phenix City and Smiths Station voters decide which local candidates to support in the Aug. 25 municipal elections, the Ledger-Enquirer is publishing a series of stories about the contested races in a Q&A format.
Today, we feature the Place 5 race on the Smiths Station Council. The candidates are Victoria Green and Diane Holman-Stein. The incumbent, Dick Key, isn’t running for re-election.
Green, 47, has worked for 25 years in conversions and implementations at TSYS.
She has volunteered for the local United Way campaign, serving on the allocation committee and conducting events at TSYS to raise money in addition to payroll deductions.
In her other community involvement, she: served on the Doris C. Weaver Girls Club board for three years; served with the Phenix City Exchange Club as a member for three years and as the leadership team’s secretary; directed, coached and refereed Upward Basketball at Smiths Station Baptist Church for 10 years; and helps the annual collection of gift-filled shoeboxes for Samaritan’s Purse locally and in Atlanta, sending them to children in need around the world.
Green graduated from Central High School. She earned a bachelor’s degree in business management and marketing from the University of Louisiana-Monroe and a master’s degree in business administration from Troy State University.
Stein, 62, is on personal leave from working 14 years as the clerk for the Smiths Station Planning and Zoning Department.
Alabama election laws mandate that municipal employees must take a leave of absence to run for office or they will not be guaranteed their job back if they lose.
“I am on leave now until after the election results are final and must quit my job with the city if I win as I cannot do both,” Stein told the Ledger-Enquirer.
Stein also has served for 13 years as the city’s archivist, for three years as the administrative secretary for the city’s zoning board and for one year as the city’s Certified Alabama Planning and Zoning Officials training coordinator.
She graduated from Wetumpka High School, then earned a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from the University of Montevallo.
Why should residents in your district vote for you over your opponents?
Green: “I am eager and ready to listen, lead and serve the citizens of Smiths Station, Alabama. I will utilize my 25 years of experience in corporate America to continue growing and moving Smiths Station to be the best city.”
Stein: “I am the most qualified and the only candidate with the extensive knowledge and experience of the city’s inner workings needed to hit the ground running. Even before Smiths Station became a city, I was invested in its future by supporting the incorporation effort and working the Census. This early personal involvement with the city’s startup combined with my 14 years of experience as a staff member in the day-to-day operations of the city and interactions with its citizens has given me an insight and understanding that needs to be present on our city council.”
What is the most important issue in Smiths Station, and how should it be addressed?
Green: “I believe growing business and keeping our residents safe are two important issues. Smiths Station has seen tremendous residential growth in the past several years, and our citizens’ safety will always be top priority.”
Stein: “We need to grow our revenue in order to offer more locally to our citizens and surrounding community. Currently, we have our city hall building, which allows folks access to all city and crucial Lee County services, as well as our sports complex, which is almost to completion. I would like to see a new facility in Smiths Station which would bring in revenue and also accommodate citizens of all ages, such as a two-story health and fitness center and office park.
“In addition, we have seen wonderful growth in the past four years, and my hope is that this will continue with wise choices as well as a respectful balance between residential and commercial development.”
What else should voters know about you and this election?
Green: “I am a passionate, caring and highly motivated individual who gives 110%. Smiths Station is a wonderful town, and I am excited for the opportunity to serve our citizens and continue to make Smiths Station the best little town in Alabama.”
Stein: “My husband, Mark Stein, and I are blessed to have called Smiths Station our home since 1991 and Mount Zion United Methodist Church our family’s church home for the past 23 years, where I also serve on the church council. We raised our son Eric here. He played trombone in the Smiths Station marching band and was in the first senior class to graduate from the new high school.”
