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Thursday, July 09, 2009 4:58 PM Barton professor aims for District 5 seat By Rochelle Moore | Times Staff Writer Deanna Diamond is one of three candidates vying for the Wilson City Council District 5 seat. She will face newcomer Nadia Minniti and two-term councilman Donald Evans in the Nov. 3 nonpartisan municipal race. Diamond, a Barton College criminal justice and criminology professor, is concerned about crime in Wilson neighborhoods and a lack of interest in making District 5 better for all residents. "I think there's been a lack of responsiveness to infrastructure concerns," she said. "Every time it rains, my street floods. There's a number of roads in Cavalier Terrace that have the same problems." She wants to see city action to reduce flooding problems in the district, is interested in having more street lighting, would like to see crime reduced citywide and wants more action against residents who don't maintain their yards. "There are some houses where people treat their yards like garbage dumps, and no one addresses it," she said. She would also like to see people throughout the district work together toward common goals. The district is mixed with people from different economic backgrounds, but many of the needs are similar, she said. If elected, Diamond said she would carefully consider policy decisions, even though some outcomes are hard to predict. She also said that she would be responsible and accessible. "We want our neighborhoods to be safe, we want infrastructure that works, we don't want traffic speeding through at 60 miles per hour when kids are playing, and we want people to maintain their yards and be responsible. I'm just trying to make a statement that if you don't like what's happening in your city, throw in your hat in the ring and do something about it." Diamond believes that competition for the District 5 race is needed. "In a democratic system, to have one person run unopposed three times is ludicrous," she said of her opponent. "In the 2005 election, 173 people voted out of more than 4,000 registered voters." Born in Alaska, Diamond grew up in the Kansas City area. She earned a bachelor's degree in pre-law and criminal justice from Marquette University, in Milwaukee in 1998. Instead of having to write a thesis for a master's degree, her master's coursework was wrapped into her pursuit of a doctorate degree in criminal justice, which she received in 2004 from Sam Houston State University, in Huntsville, Texas. She was a visiting criminal justice professor from 2003-2004 at Texas A&M University in Corpus Cristi, a criminal justice instructor from 2004-2005 at the University of Houston-Downtown and hired to the Barton College faculty in 2005. She is a member of the Wilson County Humane Society, the Wilson Human Relations Commission, the North-West District Neighborhood Association and the president-elect of the N.C. Criminal Justice Association. rochelle@wilsontimes.com | 265-7818 |
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reader said...
Nobody should be laughing at any election. It is possible that the incumbant won't get many votes and the balance of the votes are split between those who are running for change. At least it isn't a no contest vote and there is choice.
Sunday, July 12, 2009 at 3:24 PM
Yes said...Nobody should be laughing at any election. It is possible that the incumbant won't get many votes and the balance of the votes are split between those who are running for change. At least it isn't a no contest vote and there is choice.
Sunday, July 12, 2009 at 3:24 PM
It's going to be an exciting race. I can't wait. All of these City Council must go.
Friday, July 10, 2009 at 9:57 PM
Don Evans is sitting back laughing right now, knowing that his two competitors will split the vote and he'll get back in.
Friday, July 10, 2009 at 6:29 PM
It is exciting to see new contenders run for office. There is a tremendous need for change in Wilson and this (City Council) election will be a first step for electing some new blood. WOW!
Thursday, July 09, 2009 at 11:17 PM
