If you were to tell me I’d be knee deep in “politics” 15 months ago I would have said you were insane. Just the word ‘political’ would send shivers down my spine. I was too busy with 3AM feedings and diaper changes to worry about city politics. Nevertheless here I am; ironically enough you can blame my wife and three kids for that.

My intentions have been cliché: stand up for the rights of the working families of this city who are living the daily grind and be a part of the process that will shape our city for years to come. Sounds more like the typical campaign rhetoric, along with those other commonly used words and catch phrases: leadership, integrity, “vote for a guy you can trust!” Funny you never see a campaign sign that reads, “Vote for me I’m honest most of the time and will raise your taxes.” Joking aside, my concerns are real and are directly related to what this city will shape into when it is time for my kids to raise a family of their own.

It has been a fast paced, jam-packed, exciting ride to date. I’ve learned over the course of 12 months, both running a campaign and holding public office, that to be successful you must have passion, a sense of urgency to do the right thing, and hold yourself accountable for every decision you make because those decisions inevitably impact thousands.

My strategy for the next 4 years is to stay transparent, to remain humble, to listen (not every great idea needs to be my own), and to work harder then the expectations laid in front of me. At the end of the day, with the support of my family, my head will rest easy if I can look back and say I stuck to my core values and did the best I could.

Comparisons and criticism continue of both the “old” and “new” council. Comparisons made by the public, by developers, by neighboring municipalities, the media, by council, and city staff. It is time to move on. For those that are still trying to figure me out, here is how I have approached the job and will continue to do so, as long as you will have me:

• RULE #1: This position is a gift from the community and should be treated as such. So while decisions made for the betterment of the city may not be popular, you certainly need to listen to all opinions and hear all sides of an issue. An elected official’s opinion will never be the only opinion and very often may not be the best way to approach an issue.

• RULE #2: In a position of power a level of humility is mandated. It is disheartening to see elected officials that believe their vision is the only vision. We have 1 Mayor, 6 Council Members, 800+ Employees, and live in a city of 110,000. There are some incredibly talented individuals within our community that when given the opportunity, will do great things.

• RULE #3: Know your role, do your job, and the community will hold you accountable to that. Let staff do their job, Council will steer the vision. When you tell an individual with an Engineering degree how to do their job, at the end of the day that objective will not likely be met. Micromanagement does not work, as a Yankee fan I know this all too well when we look back at the teams they had in the 80’s. My job, my responsibility, is to address the questions and concerns of the community and establish the policy and vision to shape today and tomorrow. That’s what the community will hold me accountable to.

• RULE #4: Always maintain open lines of communication with all parties involved. The key for me is to listen. Listen, talk, be open and honest not just with residents, but with staff, elected officials and developers, all of whom have a role in the shape of our community. I’m open to discussions with anyone at any time for the betterment of our city. It’s a team effort and you need a team attitude.

• RULE #5: For every action and decision made I ask myself three questions:
- How will my decisions, actions, or lack-there-of, impact public safety?
- How would I feel if this decision directly impacted me and my backyard?
- Is this for the betterment of our entire City?
At the end of the day it is your actions that define you. All this talk is just that. Now it’s time to get to work.

See you around the neighborhood.