Meet your candidates: Randy Fiedler for Pegram

The local election season is upon us in Pegram, and residents are eager to learn more about the individuals vying to represent their interests and lead their community forward.

The Gazette sat down with each of the five candidates running for the town’s two open alderman seats, offering insights into their backgrounds, motivations and visions for the town. Current Pegram aldermen Randy Howington and Michael Paszek are not seeking reelection.

Early voting for Pegram’s local election will take place Friday, July 17 through Saturday, Aug. 1. See the early voting schedule and polling locations here. Pegram residents can also vote at Pegram City Hall on election day on Thursday, Aug. 6.

Each candidate brings a unique perspective shaped by their experiences and dedication to Pegram. Whether they are long-standing residents deeply ingrained in the fabric of the community or newer arrivals driven by innovative ideas, their stories represent a diverse spectrum of voices committed to tackling local challenges and propelling positive growth.

Below, get acquainted with alderman candidate Randy Fiedler, 67, who has been a resident of Pegram for over two decades, and delve into his perspectives on crucial issues through our comprehensive Q&A session.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

KSG: Why are you running for alderman, and what unique perspective would you bring to the board?

Fiedler: All through my life, I've always done jobs that would benefit everyone – that had a larger goal than just myself. I joined the Army to serve. I did four years and got out and got my college degree. 

In the Army, I was trained as a veterinarian technician. As I was going to school, I worked with animals and the animal clinic and with research animals. After I graduated, I worked for the American Red Cross, and I was a manager of their animal facility, which went in line with my work when I was in the Army.

In the Army, we worked on a bandage for the military for traumatic wounds during combat to stop arterial bleeding, using animals for the research. When I was at the American Red Cross, we also had an investigator there that was managing the animals that were used in the research to develop [the bandage]. We continued that research to develop this bandage [at the Red Cross], and it finally developed, and they're using it in the field now. It's cool working for something bigger than yourself.

I don't like seeing that people [in Pegram] are working for themselves and not for the better of the community. My concern is the safety of the people, and as you see in my signs, it's for sidewalks, but mostly I'm thinking sidewalks, crosswalks and turn lanes, because we're getting more traffic, we're getting more houses, more people, and before we have people die, I think we need to work on the infrastructure of the town – that's my main focus. 

KSG: What do you believe is the biggest issue facing Pegram over the next four years?

Fiedler: It's the growth – either non-growth or too much growth. I'm not sure which direction we're going right now, because there were a lot more businesses when I first moved here.

My thought process is that if you put down sidewalks and crosswalks, then it's going to be more feasible for businesses to move in. But, people want the right kind of businesses here too, so my vision is that we get more, more places like the Fiddle ‘n Pick and Mud Puddle – maybe a woodworking place, maybe antique stores. It's a place that people stop at when they go canoeing. When they go out to get away from the city, go do some outdoor stuff, and then they stop in Pegram and do some shopping before they go back.

KSG: What infrastructure projects should be prioritized?

Fiedler: They did a pretty decent job with the roads, but I do think they need to have more of a schedule as far as cutting back the growth on the roads, because that's always a complaint I get on our little side streets.

KSG: What is one thing Pegram does well and one thing it needs to improve?

Fiedler: They keep the park up pretty good. There's always something in the budget for the park, but the people like it. but I do see a lot more people with their animals, and I think a dog park would be nice.

To have a designated area for the dogs, that would be nice.

KSG: How can the town better engage residents in local government?

Fiedler: I think we need a monthly newsletter. We're relying on electronic messaging, Facebook and emails. If you had a newsletter, you could put it on Facebook, and you could have some way to request if you want it mailed to you. That way we can communicate with the people more.

Otherwise, what they're doing is throwing stuff up at the post office or in town hall – they post it up on the bulletin board and nobody knows what's going on,

KSG: Why should the residents of Pegram vote for you? 

Fiedler: I'm always wanting to get things done. The only thing that's consistent is change. Things are going to change, but it's how you change, how you let things develop is what's the key. So you got to bring in the right kind of businesses and make it safe for everybody, that's supposed to be my keys. 

I do bring a different perspective than everybody else, because I haven't lived here all my life. I've lived in Florida, I've lived in Washington D.C., I've lived in big towns, lived in small towns. I've had big jobs, I've had small jobs. I have a wide range of experiences. I've always tried to look at the other side of things, so if the whole committee is saying one thing, I take a perspective of the other side and present that to everybody, because there's always two sides of the story. I'm not afraid to go against the grain, either. I'm not right or left, I'm right or wrong.