Ready to become an informed voter and play your part in local government like never before? This episode promises to equip you with all the knowledge you need about the 2023 candidate Marilyn Gardner, running for re-election for the Board of Commissioners for Fuquay Varina. We take a deep dive into Marilyn’s impressive contributions to her community, her successful career in real estate, and her personal life. Despite her decision not to participate in a podcast interview, we've curated all the essential facts from online sources.
Ever wondered how local government decisions profoundly impact our daily lives? Well, this episode breaks it all down for you. We'll walk you through the details of the upcoming municipal election, including when early voting starts, the voter registration deadline, and what you need for a valid ID to vote. We also introduce you to the other candidates running for this position. Make sure to check out all the other relevant candidate episodes - your participation is crucial for a robust democracy. This is your chance to make your voice heard effectively, because remember, your vote matters, your voice matters, and you matter.
No website or social media could be found. Email: MBGardner71@gmail.com Campaign Finance Reports
As always, if you are interested in being on or sponsoring the podcast or if you have any particular issues, thoughts, or questions you'd like explored on the podcast, please email NCDeepDive@gmail.com. Your contributions would be greatly appreciated.
Now, let's dive in!
Amanda Benbow Lunn:
Hello friends, you are listening to the Holly Springs Deep Dive podcast, soon to be called the NC Deep Dive. I am your host, Amanda Benbow Lunn, in this episode of our 2023, and this episode of our 2023 candidate segment will feature Marilyn Gardner. While Marilyn originally agreed to participate in completing a podcast episode, she has since declined and has chosen not to prioritize speaking with you via this medium. However, I feel having as much information as possible as a voter is important, so I will simply be going over information that can be found online, in case it's easier for you to take in the information this way. If you are short on time, you can get most of this information from a Google search, so feel free to skip this podcast if that's a better use of your time. Marilyn is running for re-election for the four-year seat for the board of commissioners for Fuquay Varina, also known as Town Council. She will be running against Charlie Adcock, Mike Ferig, William Bill Harris and Nolan Perry. You will be eligible to vote for up to three of these candidates for this seat on your ballot when you go to vote in the upcoming municipal election. Without further ado, friends, let's dive in. While I was unable to find a candidate website or social media for Marilyn. I did find something on the Town of Fuquay Varina's website, so I will go ahead and read that information for her biography.
Amanda Benbow Lunn:
As a resident of Fuquay Varina since 1986, Marilyn Ballard Gardner was elected to the Fuquay Varina Board of Commissioners in 2015 and re-elected to a second four-year term in 2019. Marilyn is currently a real estate broker with Century 21 Triangle Group and has worked for more than 30 years in various phases of the real estate industry. She graduated from Meredith College with a BS in mathematics and received the Meredith College Alumni Award in 2000. Community involvement has been a hallmark of Marilyn's life. She currently serves on the board of the Fuquay Varina Downtown Association and Friends of the Fuquay Varina Museums. Marilyn has served as the president of the Fuquay Varina Women's Club, the Fuquay Springs Questers, Fuquay Varina New Century, and as a founding member and past president of the Fuquay Varina Junior Women's Club. Prior to being elected as a town commissioner, Marilyn was appointed by the mayor to serve on the Consolidated School Redevelopment Commission, the task force to determine the feasibility of a Main Street program, the Fuquay Varina Centennial Commission, the Mayor's Transportation Study Commission and the Mayor's Committee to Study Cultural Arts Needs in Fuquay Varina. Marilyn has been honored to receive the Fuquay Varina New Century Award in 2018, the Fuquay Varina Citizen of the Year Award in 1992, the North Carolina General Federation of Women's Clubs Club Woman of the Year and the North Carolina General Federation of Women's Club Citizenship Award In March 2023,. Marilyn was named an NC Main Street Champion. The NC Main Street Champion designation honors those persons who have made extraordinary contributions to their downtown.
Amanda Benbow Lunn:
Marilyn, a widow, was married to the late Charles W Gardner for 38 and a half years. Together they raised five children who attended local public schools. She relishes being a doting grandmother to five grandchildren. A member of the First United Methodist Church, Marilyn is very active in her church and currently serves as a Sunday school teacher. She participated in first UMC mission trips to Haiti in 2014 and 2015 and to Costa Rica in 2012. She was elected to Fuquay Varina Town Board of Commissioners to serve a four-year term in December 2015 and again in 2019. The current Town Board of Commissioner Committee she's involved in she is the Chair of the Law and Finance Committee, the Chair of the Economic Development Committee and a member of the Public Works Committee. She is the Town Liaison for the Fuquay Varina Museum Board and the Town Liaison for the Fuquay Varina Downtown Revitalization Association.
Amanda Benbow Lunn:
Marilyn has been endorsed by the Wake County Democratic Party, and that is all I am seeing online, for Marilyn. Democracy is at the heart of all we hold dear. Our local governments have the influence to decide our community's priorities. These offices have a major impact on our daily lives and can have real consequences. They create and enforce local ordinances, fund our local fire and police departments, create the structure and ambiance of our communities and decide our local property taxes. Lower voter turnout in local elections means your vote has even more of an impact.
Amanda Benbow Lunn:
Early voting starts October 19th at the Wake County Board of Elections and begins October 28th and will run through November 4th at the John M Brown Community Center in Apex and the Avery Street Recreation Center in Garner. During early voting, you may go to any of these early voting sites. Election Day will be Tuesday, November 7th. On Election Day, you have to go to your designated polling site. Please remember you will need a valid ID to vote. This year, the voter registration deadline is October 13th, though you may also be eligible to register at the voting sites during the early voting period.
Amanda Benbow Lunn:
And that brings this episode of the Holly Springs Deep Dive podcast, soon to be called the NC Deep Dive, to a close. Make sure you check out all the other relevant candidate episodes for the Board of Commissioners, also known as Town Council for Holly Springs and Fuquay Varina, at www. HollySpringsDeepDive. com, spotify, apple Podcasts, audible or wherever you currently listen to your podcasts. I will include helpful links for each candidate and voting in general in their episode show notes on our website. If you have any thoughts or topics you'd like to share, you may do so through social media or via email at Holly SpringsP odcast@ gmail. com. Thank you for engaging in today's episode and becoming a more informed citizen. Democracy is a team sport. Together we make democracy work and our communities a better place to work, live and play. Your vote absolutely matters, your voice absolutely matters. You, my friend, absolutely matter. Until next time, my friends. Namaste, the love and light in me, sees and honors the love and light in you.