There are many areas where I hope to have a positive influence for the good of the district. Roads. Housing. Small businesses. Supporting individuals who make the 2nd district what it is. But to start, I have three main areas of focus that are the core of what’s important to the county right now. Getting these three things right will give us a path to follow as we move forward.
Good Governance
Up until January 2023, county business was being conducted competently and without much controversy. Now, I think most of us would prefer a return to less chaos and more competence. What good governance seeks to do is the most good for the most people. It’s achieved through collaboration, investigation, recognition and reduction of bias, and the dogged pursuit of the best possible option.
Sometimes it seems slow, and that’s good too. I know from experience that decisions made in haste hurt people needlessly. As your commissioner, I will always look for the common good and the facts, empathy and logic that support that decision.
Transparency
If you are acting with honor and ethics and believe in your organization’s code of conduct, why would you not want the public to see everything you’re doing? As my boys were growing up, I was open with them. I never minimized my mistakes and never boasted about my victories.
Transparency in government entities like the Board of Commissioners is essentially the same thing: Follow the rules in both letter and spirit. If you make a mistake, admit it. And if you do it right, stay humble. As your commissioner, I pledge to be up-front with you, answer your questions, and keep lines of communication open so you know what we are doing, and why.
Community Mental Health/ Public Health
Community Mental Health and Public Health do things you don’t know they do, but that you rely on daily. These two organizations are the embodiment of how much we, as a county, believe in the idea that all of our neighbors deserve access to care and safety. And they deliver these services under a level of state and federal oversight that would bring most private businesses to a standstill.
To me, that demonstrates not only that they do this amazing work, but do so at an exemplary level. As your commissioner, I will always seek the means to support and empower those who work in support of all of us, but especially the vulnerable.