Vanda Mannino Challenging Myer for Council District 5

 Vanda Mannino has announced her candidacy for the Central City Council.  She has issued the following statement: 

With the overwhelming support of family and friends, I am announcing my candidacy for the Central City Council from District 5.

I am a graduate of Zachary High School and graduated magna cum laude from Southeastern with a Bachelors of Science in education. I retired from teaching after 25 successful years during which I helped write  curriculum guides for the State of Louisiana while serving on numerous education committees.  

I am happily married to Mike Mannino. We have a wonderful, blended family with eight grandchildren, and I am a happy animal mom to all our fur babies.

I love Central, and I enjoy living in the rural area of Central. The majority of the people I talk to feel, as I do, that we need to protect these areas from development that will change the country feel in our city. The Master Plan was written to do exactly that. Much of this area is absorbing water during heavy rainfall protecting the more densely populated city center. The effects of altering these sensitive floodplains would have enormous negative effects on the city core and once it’s destroyed, it cannot be reversed. For this reason, I am against the current proposal to add conditional use businesses that will affect District 5 more than any other part of Central. However, I do support limited home office type uses that are operated from an existing residence that does not have retail attached, and agricultural sales of goods grown on a home-based farm. This type of use is already permitted and we don’t have to alter existing ordinances. 

As a teacher, I developed conflict-resolution skills that I plan to use on the council to create a climate where we work together for the betterment of Central.  I am motivated to do what’s best for the people, and I have the time to accomplish it.  I also have the wisdom and foresight that comes with age and life experiences, one of those experiences being the flood of 2016.  Having flooded in 2016, I am aware of some of the biggest concerns plaguing our community. I plan to focus on the health, safety, and welfare of the city, district, and residents to address these concerns.  Compassion, communication, and research are my strengths. I will work for you!  I humbly ask for the opportunity to serve and represent District 5. I look forward to meeting and hearing from you.  

Email me at vandamaninno22@gmail.com or on Facebook messanger at Vanda Mannino-Candidate for Central of City Council District 5.