My Philosophy
“I believe that city growth should be fueled by mutual interests of the citizens from the ground up, not top down by city leaders with pet projects of their own."
Restoring American Principles
I am a long time believer in the principles behind the Constitution of the United States, which are outlined in the Declaration of Independence…
The purpose of government is to protect individual rights, equal for all
o Life
o Liberty
o Property
Government gets its authority from the people; therefore if I can’t do something with a clear conscience, then my government certainly cannot do it!
The purpose of government is to protect individual rights, equal for all
o Life
o Liberty
o Property
Government gets its authority from the people; therefore if I can’t do something with a clear conscience, then my government certainly cannot do it!
Community
The area is known for being walk-able and tightly knit, with many small, eclectic shops and mom and pops. I believe that this atmosphere came about because of what I call “organic development.” That means, ordinary people doing what they do best – interacting with their neighbors and friends, and pursuing their dreams. Whether that dream is to start a small breakfast joint like the Blue Plate Diner or a used bookstore like Central Book Exchange, individual creativity is what makes a community thrive. Development from the ground up should be encouraged. Crony capitalism, however, is not ideal. That is, when government grants or loans money to developers to accomplish some goal that only the few involved actually want. Usually, this benefits only a small number of people, yet the whole community is forced to pay for it out of the city coffers.
Integrity
I believe that integrity means sticking to your principles no matter the consequence. It means being true to your word as well. I will maintain my integrity while in City Council. This is more important to me than winning an election or pleasing an interest group. I also believe that city government should be a body of integrity. This is why I believe the city should uphold it’s agreements with people, unless that agreement violates the rights of the people. One example is the lease the Boys and Girls Club has with the city. That 15 year lease and other agreements with lease holders should be honored regardless of the city's desire to develop the area.
Personal Responsibility
We are each responsible for safeguarding the property under our care and we don't have the right to destroy the environment of others. I believe that personal responsibility is the easiest step that we can take to be good stewards of the wonderful world we live in. This comes naturally for many because it is in the interest of property owners to take care of what they own. A wise economist once said, “no one spends someone else’s money as wisely as he spends his own.” I have observed that those entrusted with the property of others never take as good of care with it as they do their own. Because of this, I believe that the best public policy for protecting land use is the entrusting of land and zoning decisions to the local community rather than to bureaucrats on the other side of town. I would like to see more authority of the city zoning and planning transferred to local communities.
Principles should come before candidates. I stand for Liberty of the individual and these basic principles, and will stand on these principles with all city council decisions.