Valerie Nicholson in Georgetown, Texas Nov 2016
Brainard Retiring From District 2 Seat
by Mike Payne
Benjamin Franklin once said, “If you want something done, ask a busy person.” Perhaps in the case of Valerie Nicholson, it would be more appropriate to say, “If you really want something done, ask a busy Georgetown mother of three young children.”
Nicholson now intends to add another item to her list of responsibilities, which already includes caring for her family, working full time, acting as an unpaid ambassador for the City everywhere she goes, and volunteering on city boards and non-profits; she is making plans to fill the District 2 City Council seat held by Keith Brainard who will not seek re-election in May 2017.
Nicholson and her husband Blake are fourth generation Texans, originally from Austin. After graduating from UT in 1999 with a bachelor’s degree in Communication, she worked with school districts around the state for 16 years in the Educational Technology field. In addition, she and Blake operate TapSnap, a local Georgetown-based company that provides customizable photo booths for events.
Nicholson is seeking this council position because she believes now is the time to transition from consumer to contributor.
“Given my life experience, it seems a natural progression to seek a significant opportunity to give back. I’ve assessed where and how I’ve been able to make a difference, and I intend to use the experience and knowledge I’ve gained to do the same for the city that we love. Not to sound cliché, I am a firm believer that the more we give, the more we get back.”
Nicholson is no freshman at knowing what is happening in and around the city. She is a V.P. on the Williamson Museum Board; volunteers for the Main Street Program as a member of the Economic Vitality Committee; sits on the GISD District Performance Council; and serves on the Georgetown Commission on Aging. In addition to these activities, if there’s anything happening around Georgetown, you’re likely to find Valerie, Blake, and their three children, Tate, Drew, and Colt, engaged, helping, or just having fun as a family.
Nicholson describes herself as fiscally conservative, and says she plans to bring that characteristic to the council. “It is vital to be certain that every dollar we spend is to the benefit of the residents of Georgetown. Of course, a top priority is public safety and I will always have an eye toward ensuring that we maintain and strengthen our efforts in this arena.”
She also is cognizant of the importance of Georgetown’s mobility issues, noting that creativity and an open mind are needed while exploring the various solutions.
Nicholson defines her primary goal on council as “to show up, to have read and understood the volumes of material we receive before meetings, and contribute where I can.”
“I believe the city is well-managed. The council is, fundamentally, a leadership group that charts direction, and then trusts the professional staff of Georgetown to execute that direction and deliver results.
“Replacing a man like Keith Brainard will be a worthwhile challenge. His depth of knowledge on budget and policy issues is extraordinary. I pledge that I will use every resource at my disposal to continue working to make Georgetown an exceptional place to live, work, and raise a family.
I sincerely ask for your vote, and together, we’ll continue to forge ahead with our convictions for our grand City of Georgetown.”
Early voting begins April 24, 2017.
