Newspapers / Elon University Student Newspaper / Nov. 1, 2017, edition 1 / Page 6
Part of Elon University Student Newspaper / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
Burlington’s two mayoral Mayor Ian Baltutis and Mayor Pro-Tempore Colo Faucette ANTON L DELGADO Ian Baltutis Elon alum and Minneapolis native Ian Baltutis is up for re-election as Burlington mayor OliVER FISCHER I STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER C OMING OUT OF HIGH school in Minneapolis, Ian Baltutis ’08 had no aspirations to serve in city government, especially not in North Carolina. Baltutis began his college career studying engineering in New York before realizing his passion for business, which led to his transfer to Elon University. Even at Elon, Baltutis had no intent on joining the polit ical sphere of Burlington. After graduating in 2008 with a degree in Business Entrepreneurship, Baltutis moved to Mebane where he worked for Honda. In 2009, Baltutis bought a house in Burlington to work in the city. Baltutis’ work as a local business owner led him to downtown Burlington. “I discovered downtown ... and began to fall in love with the community^ Baltutis said. “It didn’t im mediately pop out at me, but Burlington grows on you.” This involvement through working with local busi nesses is what connected Baltutis to local politics. Before running, Baltutis considered the difficulty he may have as a candidate not born in Burlington. “Having grown up in Minneapolis, a big city, it was tough to feel like you knew the whole community. Burlington is an amazing community because I feel like it’s the perfect size,” Baltutis said. “You have a wealth of resources, a wealth of opportunities. You have access to all the amenities that you would want from a big city without all the headache. I see it as a tremendous opportunity to make a difference.” Unlike both of his mayoral opponents, Baltutis does not attribute his need to make a difference to religion. “As a public leader, I see it as my role to rise above a sin gle faith and work as that convener to bring people together,” Baltutis said. It s not about my faith as a Unitarian universalist ... whats important is how we bring the whole community to gether to help us recognize challenges and overcome them.” While originally planning on making that difference by run- ning for city council, Baltutis realized that he could make “a bigger differ ence running for mayor and contesting that race.” After winning the 2015 mayoral election by receiving 55 percent of the vote, Baltutis began his first term as mayor of Burlington. Baltutis focused on engaging the Burlington community in more activities that he felt would strengthen the bonds within the city. “My mission when I first started running for mayor was to always include more peo ple m our community, and to always reach out to more people and make them more engaged, Baltutis said. “We prosper based on citizen engagement- it’s not about what I do as mayor or what any of our city councff members do, it is about what we come together as a community and do.” A mission that Baltutis hopes to continue. If I get re-elected, I would love to continue that outreach effort, continue to transition the energy of folks getting out to vote and getting engaged in the campaign into initiatives across the city” Baltutis said Baltutis wants to not only tackle Burlingtohs housing problem, but also tackle engaging the community. “We need to make progress on... tackling housing, specificaUy that our affordable housmg is of a higher quality than it is right now.” Baltutis said. Improving the quality of affordable housing is a factor Baltutis believes ^ promote community health and reduce issues with crimes, gangs and drug abuse. According to the Department of Public Safety’s most recent z- ssz izK ”r "A— a.™.y community. He was born and represents a wide selection of the community;’ Baltate smd. Uat perspective is important to have on council” cetteiS for Bu®5oa “Mr. Faucette has chosen not to communicate any clear fmT’°Kr “dposted for the public to review;’Baltutis said. Despite the uncertainty ofthis upcoming election Bal- tutis promises to continue to work and improve the city of Burlington no matter what the results. ^ If this election doesn’t go our way... we’U continue to do what weve been doing, which is focusing on bringing foe folks togefoer to strengthen Burlington.” Baltutis slid® I got into politics as a way to enable all this progress and enaHe our community to become stronger. ald Tf tt WHAT’S IMPORTANT IS HOW WE BRING THE WHOLE COMMUNITY TOGETHER TO HELP US RECOGNIZE CHALLENGES AND OVERCOME THEM. lANBATUTIS BURLINGTON INCUMBENT MAYOR BALTUTIS’GOALS 1. Continue the outreach effort, getting people involved in the campaign 2. Higher quality of affordable housing PRIMARY RESULTS 53 Baltutis received 53 percent of the votes in the primary CAREER TIMELINE 2008 - Graduates from Elon University with a degree in Business Entrepreneurship, moves to Mebane and works for Honda 2009 - Buys home in Burlington to work as a business owner downtown 2015 - Won Burlington mayoral election with 55 percent of vote
Elon University Student Newspaper
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Nov. 1, 2017, edition 1
6
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75