1Why are you running for Blue Springs City Council?
It’s the right thing for me to do. My wife and I have lived in Blue Springs for 22 years, raised our family, and been good ordinary citizens. Now it’s time for me to give something back to this wonderful community. I can use my 35 years of successful business experience, interpersonal communications skills, organizational abilities, and creative talents to help make Blue Springs an even better city in which to live, work, and raise a family.
2 What is the most important issue facing District 3 residents, and how do you plan to address it?
District 3 wasn’t recognized as the “Best Place to Raise Your Kids” in Missouri (Business Week Magazine, November 2009) – the city of Blue Springs was. I don’t want to divide our city into separate areas of importance. I’d rather focus on the common goals for our entire community ... and that is jobs for the future. Just a quick drive around town lets you see plenty of vacant storefronts and empty housing developments. I want to support a collaborative effort between City Hall, the EDC, the Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce, developers, and others to work as a unified team.
3 What are the top three issues facing the city overall, and what do you plan to do to address them?
The three areas that I want to focus on are public safety, local business, and Missouri Innovation Park. The police department, for example, is facing a major upgrade in FCC-mandated communications equipment by 2013. I am committed to pursuing all necessary channels of city, state, federal, and private sector sources of information to get the job done right the first time. Our local chamber instituted a great program called “Buy Blue Springs.” I care about small business owners and the need for our citizens to shop here at home ... which in turn has a multiplier effect and generates sales tax revenue, profits, reinvestments, more employees, and more places to shop.
4 What experience do you have that you feel makes you qualified to represent voters – not only in your district but throughout the city?
I have worked with all levels of city, county, and state agencies for many years: fire, police, public works, finance, DOTs, MPOs, and more. I have listened to my customer’s needs and then done my best to help find the right solutions. Similarly, I want to hear my fellow citizen’s comments and concerns on a regular basis regarding city government services, such as street maintenance, community development and planning, public safety, and traffic flow improvements. My name and number have always been in the phone book.
