Elect Damein Evans-Delrie for Sherwood City Council Ward 2

starABOUT MEstar

As co-owner of Sherwood Florist & Every Blooming Thing, I have been a local small business owner for 7+ years.
I have actively supported small businesses and the community through the Sherwood Chamber of Commerce, where I am currently serving my second year on the Board of Directors.
I recently worked with the Chamber to expand the scope of the Education Committee to include more initiatives to strengthen the relationship between the business community and our schools.
I have worked for Acxiom for 17 years, where I have learned the benefits of data analysis and gained valuable experience in marketing, project management, people management, and process optimization.
As a proud individual with a disability and champion for disability equity and inclusion in the workplace, I co-founded the DisAbility Champions business resource group at Acxiom and served on the Board of Directors for the Arkansas affiliate of Disability:IN.
I am a graduate of UALR with a Masters of Science in Management Information Systems, where I was also named an Outstanding Senior Scholar in the program.
Our son, Landon, is a graduate of Sylvan Hills High School and is enlisting in the Air Force to serve our great nation!

starARROW PLAN FOR SHERWOODstar

(Click on each to learn more)

keyboard_double_arrow_rightAccelerate opportunities for growth and support small business

Sherwood needs to grow commercially at the same rate that we are growing residentially. I will work with local business leaders and city officials to help expand the Sherwood business community and ensure that Sherwood is viewed as a business friendly city.
Relationship building is key to attracting new businesses to Sherwood. We all want new restaurants, entertainment venues, retail stores, etc., to come here. I hear it every day and read it on social media. I will actively seek out businesses to bring to Sherwood and will work closely with our Economic Development Director and city officials to aid in any way possible to foster relationships with prospective businesses that are looking to call Sherwood home – attending conferences, meeting with them personally, and introducing them to our wonderful citizens. We should all play an active role in telling the story of Sherwood!

keyboard_double_arrow_rightReinvigorate our community

I see the investments that communities like Cabot and Benton have made in recent years and the benefits that they are now seeing from those investments. I want the same for Sherwood and will work to continue to improve our parks and public facilities, like the Sherwood Sports Complex, Bill Harmon Recreation Center, and Jack Evans Senior Center. We also need to look into providing new facilities, like the aquatic park in Cabot.
A walkable and bikeable community does wonders for attracting new residents to Sherwood. I will work to continue adding sidewalks and bike paths around our city and connect Sherwood to the Central Arkansas Regional Greenway.
As a person with a disability, it is very important that we also make our community and facilities easy to access for everyone. I will work to ensure that all improvements to our community are accessible to people of all abilities. This goes beyond being ADA accessible. Meeting ADA guidelines should always be the basis for improvements but not necessarily where we stop.
While we work to make improvements to the areas listed above over time, we must continue to maintain and improve our critical infrastructure, like streets and drainage. I will work with city leaders to ensure a balanced approach to spending in order to be fiscally responsible with your tax dollars.

keyboard_double_arrow_rightRevive our education system

We need our own school district! Now that the desegregation lawsuit in which PCSSD is involved is close to being resolved, I will work with the Sherwood Education Foundation and other relevant organizations to support the process of creating our own district – giving our community control over our schools and ensuring that our children receive the top notch education that they deserve.

keyboard_double_arrow_rightOptimize communication and processes for better transparency and accountability

Being on City Council means serving the constituents of our community. To do so, you have to be actively engaged with the community and provide open lines of communication. I will always be available to listen to your opinions and concerns and will seek your feedback as topics and issues arise.
City government works best when the community is an active participant in the conversation. I will regularly update the community on happenings with the city and ensure that you are aware of important issues that are coming to a vote. I will use a variety of media for these updates in order to reach the widest possible audience.
Our city council currently meets only once per month. Because of this cadence, several ordinances have been introduced, discussed, and voted on in a single meeting – not giving the public much time (if any) to engage and provide feedback. I will work with the other city council members and city leaders to find ways to allow more time for feedback on topics and issues while still discussing and voting on ordinances and resolutions in a timely manner.

keyboard_double_arrow_rightWork to ensure safety in our community and schools

Sherwood is one of the safest communities in Central Arkansas, and we need to maintain that reputation. I will work to ensure that the police and fire departments have the resources that they need to effectively and efficiently protect our community as we continue to grow. This includes appropriate training facilities and equipment and an appropriate budget that will allow Sherwood to attract top talent.
A strong connection between our safety officers and the community helps to build trust and keep our community safe. I will work to ensure that the police and fire departments can continue their community outreach programs to build a better relationship with the citizens of Sherwood.
There is no question that our schools should be a safe space for students, faculty, and staff. I will work with the police department and school administration to ensure that all of our schools have an appropriate level of School Resource Officers (SROs) to keep everyone safe so they can focus on what's truly important – learning.

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