As part of our continuing effort to bring local news that’s impactful to our readers, we’ve proactively reached out to the five candidates running for Tega Cay City Council. We’ve provided them with a series of questions designed to provide the answers you need in order to decide on the candidates who will occupy the two available seats.
Each week leading up to the election, we will feature one of the candidates along with their responses to the list of questions provided to them. We will not manipulate their answers in any way, we’ll simply provide to you, our readers. This will allow you to make an informed choice. The order was determined by response time to our inquiry.
This week, we’ll introduce Daniel Robert. Daniel is a Human Capital Enablement Partner at Truist and retired Army officer who lives in Tega Cay. For a list of all candidates, please refer to our original article from several weeks ago: https://tegacaysun.com/2023/09/08/candidates-for-tega-cay-city-council/
Please state your name:
Daniel Robert
Please state your occupation:
I’m a Human Capital Enablement Partner at Truist Financial Corporation. This is my second
career after almost sixteen years of service in the United States Army; I retired in 2019.
How long have you lived in Tega Cay?
My family and I have lived in Tega Cay for over two years. We moved here in the summer of
2021.
What do you believe is the role of the City Council in our community?
I think the City Council is responsible for formulating and realizing the City’s vision. It’s also
incumbent upon the Council to work with City Staff at City Hall to ensure the vision is executed.
This non-partisan position, along with the rest of the Council, ensures our city’s longevity and
success – no more, no less.
What skills and experience do you have that you believe would be beneficial to you as a
Council member?
Broad perspective and great appreciation. In my Army career, I traveled worldwide, gaining
perspective. As part of my job in Special Operations, I analyzed human behavior and what
makes people “tick.” I naturally want to serve and greatly appreciate what makes our community
unique.
What previous community involvement have you had in Tega Cay or another city?
I have had no official involvement in Tega Cay or any city I’ve lived in. I was out of the country
or training to be out of the country for my time in the Army. Now that my family and I have
established roots here in Tega Cay, I feel it’s time to serve the community we call home.
What do you see as top priorities for the City and why?
Balanced economic expansion is a top priority. Our current Council and City Staff have done a
phenomenal job recognizing opportunities for annexation and responsible residential growth that
add to our tax base through impact fees. Eventually, our opportunities for residential growth will
cease, and we need a future existing commercial tax base revenue stream to offset the loss of
impact fees…because, quite frankly, the only other way to continue enjoying all that this community has to offer is to raise taxes. Tega Cay hasn’t seen a tax increase in over a decade.
I do not currently support increased taxes or a seemingly arbitrary cut in the city’s budget. With
the growth we have planned already and the commercial tax base opportunities that are on the
horizon, Tega Cay can be even more attractive for our Residents and those who wish to call
Tega Cay home.
Have you previously served on a governing board (business, government, non-profit
organization, church, etc.) or as a leader in any organization? If so, please briefly
describe the organization(s), your role, and the years you served in that capacity below.
N/A
What do you believe are the three (3) most significant strengths of the City of Tega Cay?
I think our three most significant strengths are:
- Our active community – both from a civic and recreational lens, though I think there could be more civic involvement
- Our city’s financial position which stems in no small part from the current Council’s efforts not to take on new debt
- Our willingness as a city to tackle the issues that all of us face head-on and at the same time, listening to people that we might disagree with.
Does your interest in serving on the City Council stem from a personal interest or goal?
Is there something in particular you hope to accomplish while serving on the City
Council, and why is serving on the Council vital to you? Please elaborate.
My interest in serving on the City Council is deeply rooted in a personal goal and passion for
positively impacting the lives of our community’s residents. For as long as I can remember, I
have been naturally motivated by the desire to serve and support others, and this motivation
has guided my life choices and career path.
Serving on the City Council is vital to me because it provides a direct and impactful way to
translate my intrinsic motivation to serve others into tangible actions. The decisions made at the
local level often have the most immediate and noticeable effects on peoples lives. Here, I can
directly contribute to positive change and make a meaningful difference in the lives of those I
aim to serve.
Please list any areas you believe the City of Tega Cay could improve upon:
After conversations with several Tega Cay Residents, I feel that there’s an opportunity to bring
together the entire community: whether you live ‘on’ or ‘off’ the peninsula, there is so much
opportunity to build community.
The City Council must render difficult decisions regarding implementing policies and
programs. Are you willing to take on the responsibility of making decisions that are in
the public’s best interest, even though they may be somewhat difficult?
I was taught early on to always choose the hard right over the easy wrong. Making the
unpopular but right decision is something that might not garner a lot of friends and popularity.
Still, at the end of the day, I’d rather keep my integrity and reputation intact than sacrifice it even
for a second. Once it’s gone it never comes back.
What do you believe is the single most compelling issue facing the City of Tega Cay?
The City of Tega Cay is a great place to live and raise a family. It is a relief, in a sense, that our
most talked about problems are deer and parking at Windjammer Park. I do not say that to
minimize those issues, but it illustrates how fortunate we are to live in such a great place. Our
most compelling issue will occur in the next 4 to 5 years. Due to limited land development
opportunities, future growth will be limited. As growth slows down, future budgets will have a
negative impact with the reduction of impact fees, building inspections, and tap fees. No sitting
member of the Council wants to raise taxes, so as a result, we need to explore other avenues
for revenue generation to help overcome future budget shortfalls.
Please tell us about any other activities, specialized skills, knowledge, or professional
experience that would contribute to your effectiveness in serving on the City Council.
From a human capital perspective in my professional life, I manage many competing issues
daily across several lines of business. My specialty resides in collaborating with leaders across
those lines of business to come to agreeable solutions for everyone involved. While nothing is
ever perfect and sometimes gets very messy, the solution or way forward is always executed
the same way – together.
Many are concerned about the growth within Tega Cay. What’s your plan to help maintain
a small-town feel while continuing to grow appropriately?
Despite the tremendous growth, I believe the City has done a great job of maintaining the small-
town feel through Community Events and the Outreach Programs established through our First
Responders like Camp Cadet, Cocoa with a Popo, Fist Bump Fridays, Story Time at the
Firehouse and the Polar Plunge. Let’s continue these events so that our children can see what
the city has and will become while staying connected to those who lead it now and in the future.
Is there anything you’d want to tell us about yourself and why the people of Tega Cay
should vote for you?
If you know me, you’ve heard me say this quote before. “True heroism is remarkably sober, very
undramatic. It’s not the urge to surpass others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at
whatever cost.” -Arthur Ashe.
If you want someone who is naturally motivated by service to others serving you on the City
Council, I’d very much appreciate your vote.
At any rate, please go vote on November 7, 2023 and make your voice heard.
