Meet Tammy Holloway: Candidate for Town Council

Photo Tammy Holloway

My name is Tammy Holloway and I live at 403 Tazewell Ave with my husband Jim. We are native Virginians, owners of the Bay Haven Inn of Cape Charles and are proud to call Cape Charles home. To many friends, colleagues and B&B guests I am often referred to as the “unofficial” Ambassador of Cape Charles, my love for this gem of a town is infectious!

Since our relocation here in 2011, we have been engaged in the community, we attend and participate in the regular town council, work sessions, and special meetings. I care tremendously about this town and am willing to put in the hard work necessary to get the job done
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First, I want to thank all of you who volunteer or work in any capacity to make our great town what it is today. When I hear stories of where we have come since the late 80’s I am in awe and filled with admiration of those who forged the path for what we are today. No matter the volunteer role, whether it be as one of our town planning commissions, mayor, town council, New Roots Youth Garden, Friends of the Library, Arts Enter, Citizens for Central Park church or school, just to name just a few, getting engaged in your community is so very important. Many of us chose Cape Charles because of its “sense of place”; it is my desire to serve on the Cape Charles Town Council to help make that “place we call home” the very best it can be, for ALL citizens.
During campaigns, we all become idealistic of what we think should happen and what we would do if we are elected, a platform of sorts. I think all of our intentions as candidates are good and optimistic for the future. However, I feel it is also imperative that we speak to what we have accomplished as citizens thus far.

I would like to take a moment to speak to my work and commitment to the Town of Cape Charles. As an engaged citizen I have demonstrated the following:
* Proven track record of LEADERSHIP
* Proven track record of RESULTS; PROACTIVE and ACTION-ORIENTED
* Proven track record of EFFECTIVE COLLABORATION through BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS

I have done this through a few recognizable and successful endeavors which include:

New Roots Youth Garden: Served on this board from its early inception. Developed and led the hands-on garden experience for the children, worked to establish sustainable funding and served as the organization’s President. This diverse group of engaged citizens is an amazing collection of committed and motivated volunteers of which I was proud to lead to make a difference in a child’s life.

Cape Charles Business Association (CBBA): Our business has been a member of the CCBA since we opened in 2012. I was part of creating Festive Fridays and have continued to work on this family-friendly shoulder season program which has demonstrated marked growth over the 5 year period. In 2016 I became interim secretary of the organization and joined the talented board of business volunteers as one of the few non “brick and mortar” board members. Last Spring, I was elected president of the board and have had the amazing opportunity to work with an incredible group of smart and savvy business leaders committed to making the Cape Charles business community the best it can be. In taking this leadership role it was of utmost importance that we continue to develop a synergetic relationship between the Town of Cape Charles and the CCBA. We did this by establishing regular meetings with the Mayor and Town Manager/or designated staff. Through these efforts, I have learned a lot of the behind the scenes efforts of the town staff. We are determined to address infrastructure issues such as parking, bathrooms, emergency procedures and waste management. It has been rewarding to see the renewed excitement and participation in this organization.

Cape Charles Main Street Program (Community Enhancement Program Board, CEPB): You may ask, what is the Virginia Main Street (VMS) Program? Main Street America has been helping revitalize older and historic commercial districts for more than 35 years. Today, it is a network of more than 1,000 neighborhoods and communities, rural and urban, who share both a commitment to place and to building stronger communities through preservation-based economic development.

For over three years I have worked with a small group of very focused and energized citizens, town staff, and council to forge the path to Cape Charles becoming an official Virginia Main Street Designated Community.

The synergy of this project is incredible and provides the opportunity for a 100 plus community volunteers to be a part of this transformative time. It has been inspiring asset the countless hours the team of volunteers has given thus far. I am looking forward to seeing the fruits of that labor in the days, months and years ahead. There is a lot of work (fun work!) to be done and I am personally working to engage every citizen to find a place they can make their mark in our town’s future.
As your next Town Council representative, I will make a whole-hearted commitment to serve each citizen of Cape Charles to the best of my ability with the same style of community-driven leadership that I have demonstrated since moving to Cape Charles. Through every small and large decision that comes before the council, I will strive to remember that I am representing each of YOU.

Come out to the Candidate forum on Sunday, April 15th 1:30-5:30 to get to know the candidates and learn specifics of how each the candidates plans to represent you, the citizens of Cape Charles.