Candidate Profile: Larry DiBiase For Johns Creek City Council

JOHNS CREEK — Nine city council candidates qualified for four seats in Johns Creek Nov. 2 municipal election, two of which are running for the Council Post 5 Council seat.

Larry DiBiase and Pablo Cecere have qualified as candidates for Johns Creek City Council Post 5. There is no incumbent for this seat as current Post 5 Council Member Stephanie Endres is not seeking re-election.

November 2, 2021 Municipal General/Special Election sample ballots are available for review at the Georgia My Voter Page. Enter your information in order to access a personalized sample ballot.

Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as Election Day draws near.

Larry DiBiase is running for Johns Creek City Council Post 5 against Pablo Cecere .

Age (as of Election Day)

1

Position Sought

Johns Creek City Council - Post 5

Party Affiliation

None

Family

N/A

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

BS- Accounting, BA -Geography/International Business, Licensed Real Estate Broker

Occupation

Software- 25 years, Real Estate Broker- 8 years

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

None

Campaign website

Larryforjohnscreek.com

Why are you seeking elective office?

After volunteering for many years and on various committees and boards, I was asked by many people if I would consider an elected office on Johns Creek City Council. After many conversations with my family and friends, I decided to seek office.

I have lived in the area before the formation of the city which amounts to 27 years. I believe Johns Creek, as a city, has enormous potential to grow responsibility and deliver many benefits to the citizens.

With the right leadership projects which have been stalled or delayed can now be moved forward smartly. In summary, given my background in operations, I believe, I can add value to the council and move the city forward.

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

I believe that storm water is the greatest threat the city and individuals will face over the next 10 years. While the storm water utility fee was recently enacted, it does not begin to address the complexities of the problem, nor the root cause. Rather, it is simply a patchwork of repairs, while needed, it does not go deep enough to address future challenges or mitigating factors for both residents and the city.

Going forward, a committee should be formed composed of residents, experts, and city officials who represent the interests of all stakeholders. A long-term plan must be identified and all solutions should be explored to solve the problem, not just fix what is broken today. In addition, technology can be employed to better categorize individual land lots with more granularity and assess proper fees. Without a comprehensive solution, the negative effect of storm water will severely impact current and future land values throughout the city.

What are your short- and long-term goals if you are elected?

I have several short-term goals and long-term goals that I would like to complete during my term.
1) Improve our business environment to attract new and diverse types of business to the city.
a) Place a strong emphasis on finding the right candidate to fill the role of Economic Development Director.
b) Understand the limiting factors which make doing business “difficult in Johns Creek”
c) Review our code enforcement practices to assure we are fair and not over-reaching thus impacting business and residents.
2) Ensure support for the Town Center Plan.
a) Since I was on the Town center Advisor Committee, (TAC) I am extremely interested in moving the implementation of Phase one quickly, yet smartly
b) Support community development and discussion with all stakeholders, thus working in parallel with supporting projects. Specifically, I support the Legacy Center project and a focused effort must be directed to support and refine this project.

3) Storm water Management:
a. As a committee comprised of residents, city and regional officials should be formed, thus viewing the problem from all sides. A real solution, accepted by all, must be crafted to address this problem both in the short term and long term. Problem resolution, not just repairs and playing catch up for the next 20 years.

4) Regarding the long-term goals, I believe the prior council has created a great foundation for the new council to build upon.
a. The city has purchased an ERP system to help manage departments. I would like to work with city staff to better understand the phases of integration and how they can help efficiencies for various departments. Specifically, the contract management module is interesting, for it will allow better vendor management along with other metrics for better transparency.
b. Parks & Recreation, My goal here is to obtain the funding to complete the build-out of all the parks we purchased. Having residents-driven park activities will help build bridges within the community and increase the quality of life in the city.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I believe the critical differentiates between myself and my opponent goes beyond merely the words like transparency, experience, or volunteerism. I believe there is a philosophical difference between my opponent and myself.

Over the years, I have volunteered for and have been appointed to:
1) My Homeowners Association (HOA)
2) Vice-President of the Johns Creek Community Association (JCCA)
3) Appointed to the Johns Creek’s Town Center Committee (TAC) as a prime
4) Appointed to the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA)
5) Currently, On the Northview Football Board

I believe in being involved, learning, and giving back. There is no substation for knowledge or experience and only through these actions can trust be earned…. Never given. How can citizens trust someone who has not been involved, communicated, or expressed a desire to learn by volunteering? Again, trust is earned!

Trust, that you have put in the time to learn the subject, you have given yourself to understand all sides and put aside any preconceived notions of knowing or conclusions.
There is a significant difference between my opponent and myself. I encourage each reader to research and study the activities each candidate has performed before choosing to run for office. Experience, education, and commitment should not be taken lightly.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)?

In general, I feel the current council should have made a better effort to work out their differences and work style individually thus allowing the council and public to focus on real issues.

How do you think local officials performed in responding to the coronavirus? What if anything would you have done differently?

I feel the Johns Creek Council has managed the Covid -19 as best as can be expected.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

One of the most important issues to both residents and my campaign is Safety and Security for the residents. I will make sure all first responders have the proper funding, equipment, and training to perform their duty. I do not believe in any of the national politics of “de-fund the police”. If elected, I will ensure first responders are properly equipped and held to the highest standards.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

While working for various corporate organizations, I had the privilege and was entrusted to build operations in many countries throughout the world. During my assignment, I knowingly entered “Greenfields” which indicated, I was expanding operations into territories with little support. The activities needed to be successful were knowledge of the local culture, creativity, deep contract understanding, and overall ability to work with different cultures and groups. Working on the city council will have very similar attributes for finding the magic of common ground among council members and other stakeholders is paramount.

As a member of Johns Creek Community Association (JCCA), I have engaged with many residents to help them understand various projects that were proposed to the city by developers. Part of that engagement is to explain traffic studies, offer solutions and recommend a move forward or a reject position to residents of these HOA’s.

As a member of the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA), I have adjudicated many cases and challenged assumptions, to reach the fundamental issues which allowed me to vote only on the merits of each case.

Working with both the JCCA and BZA, I dedicated time, research, and commitment to assure both the citizens, developers, and city adhered to the Comprehensive Land Use Plan and ordinances.

I feel these three experiences, corporate and community involvement have allowed me to balance the needs of the residents along with the city ordinances and the processes to the benefit of both.

What do you like best about living in your city (or county)?

I moved into the area in 1994 when there were two-lane roads and horse farms throughout the area. Over the years I have seen the area grow into a much larger city which brings both the conveniences of a larger community but also the negatives, such as higher traffic. Both are to be expected as the city grows. I feel fortunate that many years ago, I have chosen and settled in this growing and diverse community.

All great cities have diversity in people, activities, and culture. We in Johns Creek live in the most diverse community in Georgia which allows me to feel feel part of a larger global community.

While running for city council, I have met many, many people and I can share wholeheartedly, our real strength lies in knowing and understanding each other in this diverse community. We have so much to learn from one another and I am happy to be part of that.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Never give in, never give up, always keep reaching for it to make you taller.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I have chosen to run for political office not because it was my long-term plan, but rather because the people who have known me for a long time suggested and encouraged me to do so. These individuals have worked with me, have seen me lead, and believe I can make a difference, in a positive way for the city. I am not political, I stand firm to my convictions, yet flexible if a better path is presented. I believe deep inside most people know what is “right or wrong”, yet are pulled in every direction based upon our knowledge, experiences, and prejudices.

It is my lifelong mission to keep learning, understanding, and seeing the positive in people, issues, and situations. If I am fortunate to be elected, I will strive to always position myself in the resident’s first position and see how we can all better ourselves, and if we fail, we fall forward.