Who is Michael Osborne, 2023 candidate for Cornelius Board of Commissioners?
Name: Michael Osborne
Age as of Nov. 7, 2023: 53
Campaign website or social media page: electosborne.com
Occupation: President of Shiptransportal
Education: MBA Wake Forest University, BA Furman University
Have you run for elected office before? (Please list previous offices sought or held)
Town of Cornelius Commissioner - elected in ‘21.
Please list your highlights of civic involvement
Cornelius Board of Commissioners, Cornelius Planning Board, Entrepreneurs Organization Charlotte Chapter, YMCA’s Y-Guides Board.
What are, in your view, the most important issues facing Cornelius, and what would your approach be to handling them if elected?
Issues related to overcrowding are the most urgent. Since they impact our quality of life in every way, they are also the most important. Overcrowding symptoms are shown as traffic on the roads, lack of parking, overcrowded parks and schools, stressed safety departments and lack of affordable housing. The solution to overcrowding is not only to address how we grow, but also to focus on capturing the investment in our infrastructure required to support it. I would continue to support the newly adopted Land Use Plan created by our citizens. Additionally, I believe that a greater focus on regional solutions will drive better, faster and more cost effective solutions for northern Mecklenburg county. We can do this and help Mecklenburg County and the state be more efficient with the use of their investments.
Communities across Mecklenburg County have seen growth and development as well as a hot real estate market in recent years. How should Cornelius approach development and housing issues?
Removing planned density from where it is most costly to support and encouraging it where it benefits the residents the most is the best approach. This includes trying to create more walkable areas of town that make it easier for residents to get the goods, services, healthcare and transportation they need. The affordable housing issue is primarily a relationship between short supply and increased costs for new housing. When discussing the supply, we are limited in how we can respond. The town’s roads, schools, police, fire, water and sewer all have constraints that have to be considered when considering growth. With regards to affordability, the town has done a great job in recognizing the issue of affordability and supporting the development of the Lake Norman Community Development Corporation. Their mission is to make affordable housing attainable in our region. Seeding this nonprofit until it can stand on its own, encouraging developers to include affordable housing as part of their projects and reaching out with education to existing landlords all provide a great deal of hope that this issue can be managed in our region.
What separates you from your opponent(s)?
I have the ability and experience to transform a vision and into a practical, actionable solution.
What one professional or political accomplishment are you most proud of?
I am most proud of spearheading the citizen based Growth Management Task Force to update our Land Use Plan. Involving our residents in this complex process proved two things: 1)Our residents are knowledgeable, creative and capable and 2)they love our town. They can make decisions without political and/or economic bias, instead they make them based on a shared desired outcome .... an even better Cornelius.
This story was originally published October 9, 2023 at 6:00 AM.
