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For the past three years, Robyn Tannehill has represented Ward II as an Alderman, but after she announced her intent to run for Mayor, her seat will become vacant. Yesterday, Mark Huelse announced that he will run to represent Ward II as their next Alderman in 2017. Below is Huelse’s statement on his candidacy.
“Mark Huelse, a local business manager and co-owner of Something Southern, is pleased to announce his intent to run in the 2017 city election for the position of Ward II Alderman.
Huelse, who has lived in Oxford for the past 26 years, has served on a number of committees, including the City Ordinance Review Committee and the City of Oxford Planning Commission. He thanks the individuals inside and outside of Ward II that encouraged him to seek the position.
“Oxford is a vibrant, growing community and the growth has to continue to be managed fiscally and responsibly,” says Huelse. “Most importantly, it has to be managed with a vision and careful preparation, which I’ve gained experience in through the planning processes of the city.”
Huelse currently sits as chairman of the Oxford Square Alliance, president of the Grand Oaks Homeowners Association and is a member of the Oxford University United Methodist Church Building Committee.
An engineering job with Parker Hannifin Corporation brought Huelse in Oxford in 1991. There, he was recognized with the Parker ACD Outstanding Achievement award and the Parker Hannifin Corporate Outstanding Cost Reduction Individual award. Throughout his professional career, Huelse has gained extensive knowledge of both corporate management and small business ownership and management, making his view point on the growth of Oxford one that can empathize with a broad range.
“After leaving the corporate world in 2001, I started helping my wife with Something Southern, our interior design business,” says Huelse. “That’s where I really began getting involved in Oxford and got to know the Oxford people. When I was asked to serve on the Planning Commission three years ago, my involvement in the planning for the future of Oxford really took off.”
Huelse aims to continue working with Vision 2037, a 20-year plan for Oxford which was recently adopted and will soon enter the implementation stage. He believes that having a consistency in the sector, as well as his knowledge and understanding of it’s operation, is what can set him apart from others.
“I’m not a political person,” says Huelse. “But I feel that the next four years will be key to Vision 2037, and I am willing to serve the community to help with a successful implementation.”
Huelse adds that some big challenges lying ahead for existing Ward II neighborhoods are improving existing ordinances and code enforcement. City-wide issues will be the addition of roads, infrastructure and city services, especially with upcoming annexation plans.
Huelse and his wife Becki have been married for 26 years. His step-son, Matt Scott, operates the Huelse’s furniture and cabinetry warehouse, as well as drives and dispatches buses for the Oxford School District, where his wife, Lisa, works as a teaching assistant. Matt and Lisa’s son, Nicholas, attends Della Davidson Elementary School.
After receiving his Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from the University of Missouri- Rolla, Huelse received a master’s degree in business administration from Christian Brothers University in Memphis.”
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