A triple threat is running for Staunton City Council in November’s election: an individual who is a teacher, veteran and a local business owner.
Corrie Park grew up in Norfolk’s Ocean View and came to Staunton in 2013 after a camping trip with her husband and two children.
“First of all, I just love Staunton,” she said of her running for one of four open seats on council. “So, anything that I can do to help or serve our community, I want to do.”
Second of all, Park, a Social Studies and Government teacher at Stuart Hall School in Staunton, loves the government process and decided it was time for her to be a part of it. Two years ago, Park’s 7th grade Civics class hosted a forum for city council candidates. At the time, even her students asked her why was she not involved in local government.
“Why am I not doing this? It really started to kind of eat at me, a little” she said. “Why am I not? This is what I love.”
She majored in Government as an undergraduate at William and Mary College, then enlisted in the Virginia Army National Guard as a military police officer. While she loved serving her country, which included deployment to Washington, D.C. after 9/11, when she began to have children, Park did not want to leave them for long periods of time.
She and husband, Lex, are now empty nesters. Daughter, Lucy, is a freshman at JMU and son, Grayson, is almost 21. Both graduated from Staunton High School.
Park applied for a loan through Staunton Creative Community Fund (SCCF) 11 years ago and opened Made by the People for the People at 15 E. Beverley Street in downtown Staunton.
Park appreciates all that Staunton has to offer, but said work is still necessary when it comes to affordable housing.
“This is really important to me. So, one of my biggest things is that why I’m running is the concept of civic virtue is my No. 1 priority. Not that you can force people to feel a certain way, but a sense of community, a sense of the greater good [in society]. We have got to get back to that.”
American politics and social media have divided individuals, but as a teacher and a Staunton resident, Park hopes to bring everyone back together. Changing zoning laws and tax incentives might enable the city to ease the housing crisis felt across the United States.
Park is passionate about providing more opportunities for local artists to beautify downtown with their art in public spaces.
“It pains my soul that Waynesboro has more murals than we [in Staunton] do,” Park said.
Although she grew up in Norfolk accustomed to hurricane weather, Park said she never saw a flash flood until the one in early August 2020 in downtown Staunton. The city needs flash flooding preparation to avoid another incident.
“Ensuring our city is adequately prepared to handle that,” Park said.
She would also like to see improvements to infrastructure and growth on the West End, especially when it comes to traffic patterns and sidewalks.
“We need to make sure the infrastructure is being put in place to support the new developments going forward,” she said.
She is excited about the rebirth of Uniontown.
“I’m really looking forward to being a part of that,” she said.
As she runs for city council, Park said she hopes her students are learning the importance of their voices being heard in a democracy.
“It’s just so important. You have to let it be heard.”
Election Day is Tuesday, November 5, 2024.
Related stories:
Staunton: Dan Gunnells one of five candidates for City Council (augustafreepress.com)
Staunton: Adam Campbell seeks re-election to City Council (augustafreepress.com)
Share
Rebecca Barnabi
