Collierville Alderman Position 1 - Collierville Soccer Association

Three of the five Collierville Alderman’ positions are to be voted on in the
November 2nd elections. Early voting began Oct. 13th and will end on Oct. 28th.
These positions are “at large” therefore they have no geographical boundaries.
As such, all Collierville citizens can vote for each of the positions.
Incumbent Maureen Fraser is running unopposed for Position 1.
Alderman Mike Russell chose not to run, which left Position 2 vacant.
Two political newcomers are vying for this position – Jeff Martindale & Billy Patton.
Finally, incumbent Tom Allen is being challenged by Bill Cox for Position 4.
Collierville Soccer asked all five candidates to submit a position paper that would be
posted on the CSA website. The candidates were limited to 250 words or less and the focus
was to be on specific areas of concern within our membership, including, Town of
Collierville Parks, athletic fields & maintenance, park tax, new facilities, etc.
Below are responses from the four candidates who replied.
Responses are listed, by position, in alphabetical order.
Collierville Alderman Position 1
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Position Statement regarding Collierville Parks, Athletic Fields, Maintenance,
Park Tax, New Facilities, etc.
As a resident of Collierville since 1995 with a family of three children, we have extensively
utilized the Collierville Parks system for just shy of 16 years. I was elected in 2003 as an
Alderman for the Town, ran unopposed in 2006 and am running unopposed once again in
the current election.
Maureen Fraser
This past year, I was appointed to serve as the Alderman liaison to the Parks Advisory
Board. During this year, the Board made a recommendation for the development plan for the newest Collierville park,
Hinton Park, located in the Southwest area of Collierville. The concept plan has been adopted, with the next step
being implementation of Phase 1, Hinton Athletics, which will include two full size soccer fields and parking.
I have supported and very much appreciate the hard work and dedication of the hundreds of volunteers within the
Collierville Soccer Association. Members of my family have served in multiple capacities across CSA: a nine-year
board member, 12-year recreational coach, four referees, two recreational players and one long time Lobos
competitive player.
It is crucial we maintain a strong working relationship between CSA and the Town of Collierville. I will continue to
work hard to ensure we have the best facilities possible to serve the nearly 2,000 soccer players, their families and
the multitude of volunteers. Communication is vital.
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Collierville Alderman Position 2
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When my wife, Lana, and I moved to Collierville in 2000 with our two sons, our decision
was heavily influenced by feedback about the Town’s park system and youth sports programs.
Ten years later, our pride in these Town offerings has never been stronger.
Our family has been actively involved in Collierville youth sports for years. I witnessed the
Collierville Soccer Association in action when both sons played recreational soccer. In my
opinion, the CSA is a model youth sports organization and I’m impressed by the quantity of
your programs and the quality of your leadership and volunteers.
Jeff Martindale
I’ve spoken with members of the CSA board, and understand your concerns about facilities, the scarcity of playing
fields, and the diversion of park tax dollars to fund other shortfalls, to name a few. CSA is the biggest and fastestgrowing youth sports organization in town, and as your alderman, I will be your advocate at Town Hall and sounding
board for your concerns.
I understand the importance of being a youth leader. For the past seven years, I’ve served as leader and
Cubmaster for Collierville’s Cub Scout Pack 50. Scouting and youth sports both require committed leaders, dedicated
volunteers, and active parents to thrive and succeed. These activities have a tremendous impact on our youth and
their families, and I take that responsibility very seriously.
A vote for me for Collierville Alderman, Position 2 means a vote for a committed youth leader who understands
your needs.
Regards,
Jeff Martindale
I believe that athletics is essential for childhood development. I give heavily to athletics. Soccer
in Collierville is huge. I believe it is important to give equal billing to both competitive and
recreation teams. When tax payers pay (and everyone does), what they are paying for should
be for the benefit of each and every person equally.
Regarding the fields… I believe that Collierville should have ample fields and should pay for the
maintenance of these fields at the tax payer expense. This being an amenity or reason one
would want to move or live in Collierville.
Billy Patton
My priorities are as follows:
1) Public Safety
a) Police
b) Fire
2) Public Services
a) Roads
b) Water
c) Sewer etc …
3) Amnetities
a) Parks
b) Recreation
4) Historical Preservation
(A must have)
(A right for any taxpayer)
(A reason to live/move here )
(A window into our future)
Regarding parks and new facilities, I believe that if part of Suggs park is taken for the new middle school that, we
must find a suitable place for a replacement park. Thereby adding more fields and relieving congestion.
If we the board of Aldermen said that the .10 cents park tax was for parks, it should be for parks. We should never
say one thing and do the other.
Sincerely,
Billy Patton
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Collierville Alderman Position 4
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Did not reply
Tom Allen
Collierville Soccer Association,
As lifelong residents of Collierville, my wife Cindy and I have seen, first hand, the critical
importance of adequate sports facilities in our community as we raised our own three
children here.
Bill Cox
I coached our two boys in baseball and football and watched with pride as they learned
valuable life lessons during our own games and as they also played basketball and
soccer. That’s why I was happy to serve as a founding board
member of CYAA and worked for several years as the football coordinator, a member of the Executive Board and
later on the Parks and Recreation Board.
Now, as a candidate for Alderman, I’m asking for your help to ensure that Collierville continues to provide adequate
fields for our children’s practices and games.
This is not a trivial request. Ensuring adequate sports facilities for our children is a lifestyle issue and represents one
of the most important responsibilities of our town to the people we serve. In my experience, if supply falls behind
demand for fields, it is very difficult to ever catch up. I will do all I can to see we never have to face that challenge.
With your support, I will be an aggressive advocate for the interests of the CSA and for all youth sports.
You can find more information on my vision of preservation and progress for Collierville at www.votebillcox.com. I
hope I can count on your support and most of all on your vote.
Warmest Regards,
Bill Cox
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