Candidate Profile: Dwayne Waterman For Canton City Council

CANTON, GA — Three city council candidates are running for three seats in Canton's Nov. 2 municipal election.

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

Dwayne Waterman is running for Canton City Council, Ward 3.

Age (as of Election Day)

43

Position Sought

Canton City Council, Ward 3 (Seat currently held by Nick Estes who is not seeking another term)

Party Affiliation

This is a non-partisan role and I am not a politician. I will say that I was raised in a politically divided household which afforded me the ability to look at multiple points of view.

Family

Wife: Michele (married 13 years), Son: James (5), Daughter: Jillian (12)

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

NO

Education

Southern Polytechnic State University: B.S. Industrial Engineering & Masters of Business Administration from Strayer University

Occupation

Director, Workplace Engineering - (27 years of experience in manufacturing, Industrial Engineering, energy procurement, energy reduction initiatives, Operations and Planning, 6-Sigma)

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Currently serving as Co-Chair: Canton's Public Safety Citizen Advisory Board. Appointed in July 2020.

Campaign website

http://www.facebook.com/electd...

Why are you seeking elective office?

Canton is where we chose to raise our children. We are invested in its economic and social success. We are in for some exciting times over the next few years according to the city's roadmap. Passionate about fiscal responsibility and public safety, I am eager to support the growth of Canton in a way that welcomes new residents and visitors, but also protects our vital existing community and it's citizens.

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

We have, and will continue to see increased growth in our area. You can't stop growth, but I will work with council to make sure it is done responsibly.

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

My educational background in Industrial Engineering, where the goal is improve processes or design systems that are more efficient and waste less money, time, resources, man-power and energy, I believe I offer a unique business and engineering perspective that will ensure the health, welfare, comfort, and safety of the citizens of Canton. In my career, I have led successful teams and projects that have saved our clients millions of dollars. This was accomplished by either designing or improving manufacturing processes, effectively managing energy portfolios to reduce risk, or simply providing a different perspective on issues that could not be solved.

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

In my opinion, Canton is one of the best places to raise a family. We don't hesitate to help our neighbors. Chief Merrifield and the Canton police department have done an excellent job of integrating themselves in the community and making us feel safe. We have great parks and restaurants, concerts, First Fridays, farmer's market, etc. There are so many great things available to us here and still maintains that small-town feel!

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Don't strive for perfection, strive to get better every day.