Editor’s Note: This article is part of a series of questionnaires profiling candidates running for City Council Post 1 in the upcoming Richmond Hill municipal elections. (Tuesday, November 4). Answers were edited for length and clarity. Follow the Bryan County News for more election coverage.
About Cindy
Born and raised in upstate New York, Cindy Hatala has lived in Richmond Hill/Ft. Stewart since 1982. She is a first-generation college student, earning a bachelor’s degree and Master’s degree in Education, as well as a specialist degree in Curriculum and Instruction. In between her educational career, she served in the U.S. Army. Hatala became a teacher and has taught for 36 years.
Why are you running?
“My home flooded in 1994 and it flooded again in 2016…we had engineers come in and do studies [to my home], they told us what we needed to do. [But] I feel like we need to do more things. Last year, when Debbie flooded the community over in Rushing Street, I had a little boy from my classroom that lived there and I just remember crying because he lost everything. And what really motivated me to run was seeing the number of people that came to City Council last fall that [got] flooded and I sat there and I teared up because I have been in their shoes, I know exactly what it feels like.”
“And the airport. This is a big decision about money and what we’re doing and I think that before we invest time and money into an airport, we need to invest time and money into fixing infrastructure problems, drainage, and the roads. We need to fix the current problems we have.”
What sets you/your ideas apart?
“I think part of what sets me apart is that I have actually lived it. I know what those people standing there, talking about losing everything, are feeling. I know what that feels like, because I have been there. Anytime you can put yourself in someone else’s shoes because you’ve lived it, it really resonates with you.”
“I also think that, being a teacher for 36 years, I have really learned to listen to what’s being said. If I’m elected, I’d like to start having forums where residents come and talk at night, like town halls, and tell us what’s on their minds and [tell us] what they feel we’re doing well or what we need to improve on. I think transparency and communication is a big issue that’s missing right now from some of the council members and I feel that I would definitely want to improve that.”
From your perspective, what are the three biggest issues facing the city of Richmond Hill?
Drainage, flooding
Infrastructure
Growth
“We’re growing exponentially, and I don't think there’s much of a plan or plans in place already. We need to make sure that this wonderful town is safe and accessible, and that everyone is safe.”
How has social media affected local government, if at all?
“I think social media is a dual-edged sword. I think it does have some good aspects. [But] the city and the county really have a problem with communicating and it was apparent last fall [with the flooding]. It was just so confusing, because you were told one thing, and then the city was telling residents one thing, and then residents were telling other residents another thing and…social media muddies the waters because anyone can be a keyboard warrior but the information is not always correct. When you have people posting that they’re told this or told that by this person or another, it is concerning.”
Where do you see the city of Richmond Hill in 10 years?
“I see the city of Richmond Hill as still the beautiful city it is because it’s a great place. At the rate we're growing the city, I think it's going to be much bigger. And I think that we definitely need to have a plan in place. I think we have some great ideas for growing small businesses here.”
“It’s an amazing community…but I'm really hoping in 10 years that the city and the county will work much, much closer together.”
“In 10 years, I hope and pray that it's still as beautiful a town as it is now, and that there's a few more things for our children and grandchildren to do in the town. We have a lot of businesses, you know, we have a lot of homes being built, but we don't have as much recreation and things for our teens to do.”