Although this interview was conducted via email, it was a pleasure getting insight from candidate Laura Hulett.

Laura moved to Bedford from Boston, Massachusetts in January of 2011 to start her life with her (then) future husband Mike. Mike bought the Russian Orthodox church on Charles Street in 2007 because he loved the community and wanted to live where he works. At the time he was working at the Carson Legal Center and was saving to open a bicycle shop here – which he did in February of 2010. The Broadway Cyclery is where Laura and Mike both work full-time.

Laura is running for Ward 3. Marilyn Zolata has been the representative for Ward 3 for a very long time. She is retiring from City Council this year and Laura hope to continue her work in a way that honors her legacy, and help guide our community into the future.

Here are a list of questions asked, and her response:

1.) Why are you running for City Council?

In the time I have lived in Bedford, I have grown to love this city and the community here. Like most communities, we are faced with financial challenges, demographic changes, and a need to approach the future so that the city can flourish in the face of a changing world. I hear a lot of people complaining that Bedford is changing and not always for the better. I say the same thing when I visit the city I grew up in. Nostalgia is powerful and looking back on life experiences is intoxicating in light of seeing a different-looking community. Bedford, and every other city for that matter, will never be as it was in decades past. Being a relative newcomer to the city, I have the fortunate position of seeing the potential for greatness here. I would love to be a part of guiding the city forward with fresh eyes that see what can be in the future.

2.) What about issues faced in ward 3:

Crime, including drugs, violence, etc.
Transportation infrastructure (road/sidewalk conditions, new bridge, etc.)
Speeding
Blighted properties
Recreation opportunities for kids

3.) what is the worst thing to happen in your ward in the last five years?

I live directly across the street from Interstate Park. From my house I saw people dealing drugs right in front of a group of children playing near the parking lot. Yes, I called the police.

4.) What is the best thing to happen in your ward in the last 5 years?

Xellia Pharmaceuticals purchased the Ben Venue property and has been ramping up production and distribution at the site with more growth and jobs on the horizon.

5.) How can the city support small business development and expansion?

No matter how much the city wants to attract businesses and business expansion, the community must stand behind the city. To have businesses want to move into or expand in the city, we must market Bedford’s strengths:

Increasingly engaged community.
Accessibility to major highway systems.
Location in the Cleveland Metroparks system and gateway to the Cuyahoga National Park.
Historic downtown with a central park that hosts family-friendly activities year-round.

The city can offer time-commitment incentives like reduced water or taxes and flexibility in zoning to enable outside-of-the-box thinking for development of vacant properties.

6.) Finally, What do you think is the best way to stabilize the core residential neighborhoods of Bedford?

Community engagement is the key to keeping our neighborhoods safe and stable. We live in a world where it is easy to isolate ourselves from our neighbors by being glued to our phone, computer, and television screens. Empowering people to get to know their neighbors, and to help and watch out for each other drives a sense of community which facilitates stability. When one feels like they belong to something (like a community) they take pride and ownership in it – which in turn makes it a better place to live. Having events like ward parties to bring people together to get to know their neighbors would be a good start, but simply getting people to just go out and say hi to a neighbor opens the door to transitioning from a neighborhood where you “stay” to a place that is your home.

Thanks Laura Hulett and Good Luck!