Giuliani Stephens: Ready to devote time to job
Mary Giuliani Stephens would not move far if elected mayor – just two chairs in the Woodbury City Council chambers.
Mary Giuliani Stephens would not move far if elected mayor – just two chairs in the Woodbury City Council chambers.
Stephens is finishing her first term on the council. She said she wants to continue serving the community and would treat the position of mayor as a full-time job because of the many issues facing the city of 60,000 people.
Stephens said a mayor must be in tune with local issues and should participate in regional policy organizations that affect Woodbury, especially those dealing with economic development and transportation. She would meet regularly with school officials, Washington County commissioners, business leaders and developers.
“You’re really the face of the city for both the city and the residents,” she said.
Stephens, 55, was encouraged to run by retiring Mayor Bill Hargis. Stephens said that while the two share a vision for Woodbury, “I’m different from Bill.”
Hargis became mayor in 1993 and oversaw rapid growth, Stephens said. Now, Woodbury is still growing, but at a slower rate and in a different economy.
New challenges mean Woodbury must be aggressive in courting businesses to relocate here, she said: “We need to be more proactive.”
If the city must cut spending, Stephens said she would start by reducing contracts, reviewing overtime and cutting some employee training. Public safety should not be cut, she said.
Stephens said she is proud of the city’s long-term planning, including for a proposed Bielenberg Sports Center expansion. She supports construction of a permanent field house to replace the temporary field house at Bielenberg Sports Center.
Stephens is an attorney but has not practiced law during her time on the council. She would do the same as mayor.
“It’s clearly not a part-time job,” she said. “I think you need to look at it as a full-time job.”
At a glance: Mary Giuliani Stephens
Resident: 25 years
Occupation: Attorney (not currently practicing)
Family: Husband; adult son and daughter
Civic involvement: Woodbury City Council since 2007; Woodbury Community Foundation; Woodbury Chamber of Commerce; Woodbury Prayer Breakfast, former chair.
Tags: woodbury mayor, election
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