I've lived in this area for 33 years and raised my family in Charlottesville. My special interest IS Charlottesville. In the coming weeks, at my own Fenwick Forums, and at other community events, I'll be making myself available to hear your ideas, and share my own about how we as a community can take steps to protect and invigorate our city.
My priorities are open and honest government, economic empowerment, environmental stewardship and fiscal responsibility. As a member of City Council, I'll work as hard as I can to turn the local economy around. We have the opportunity to use upcoming major capital improvement projects to improve the local economy and our community. Water, sewer, and transportation systems are all slated to receive major overhauls in the next few years to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars. My experience as an engineer and home-contractor make me uniquely suited to understand how to turn those challenges into local employment opportunities. I have relevant, direct experience installing, repairing and maintaining municipal water and sewage systems, including dredging, and addressing surface water issues. I know how to manage these jobs, including prioritization and budgeting. Done right, infrastructure repair and maintenance can be a jobs machine and add to the natural and financial health of our community.
I take the ideal of responsive community-serving government very seriously. As it stands now we are a city of slogans.....not action. No action for businesses, no action on dredging the Rivanna Reservoir.....no action to protect city assets. In running for this office, my underlying goal is to encourage policies and decisions that strengthen our citizens, families, and neighborhoods. With your help, I want to help ensure that the Charlottesville City Council, rather than ruling citizens, represents them.