Put simply, I see the Community being ignored and diminished to benefit developers and selfish interests. We can change that, working together. We can change that by getting our voices heard and concerns addressed. We can change that by making officials accountable and responsive.
The best government is of, by, and for the people – not just those with the most money or property or power or contacts. We are a community of oldtimers and newcomers that needs to listen and hear all voices. We need to build a vision and consensus together with an action plan to make it happen.
We need right-sized government – not too big and not too small. We need government that stays in touch, that keeps us informed, that makes it easy to find answers and information, and doesn’t put muzzles on people. We need government that works in the sunshine and doesn’t litigate when it can communicate. And we need government to stand up to bullies who would ruin what we value for their selfish gain and private benefit at public expense.
Putting Community First is my priority. We need to build resiliency, not more paved surfaces. We need to protect our people, planet, and prosperity for all, not private profit for the powerful and few. We need to value our young and our old in year-round families and households able to live, work, and learn here in affordable housing with available medical and human services.
We need to have streets safe for pedestrians and ways to move around for residents without being mowed down by vehicles. We need our beaches secure, accessible, maintained for marine and shore life with good hygiene and parking for residents that also accommodates visitors. We need to keep our heritage, scenery, woodlands, wetlands, wildlife, wilderness, and open spaces viable for the future.
There is a cost to everything we do, but funding needs to be fair, equitable, and sustainable. The public needs to be given a choice and informed ahead so it can decide its budget priorities by a referendum to show what it does or doesn’t want.
Then we need to work together with others in all sectors and allied communities and governments on our common good, common wealth, and shared concerns and interests. We need to plan together when and where we can from the Local to the County, Regional, State, Federal, and Planetary level. And we need to act to implement and assure those plans are carried out to the best and fullest extent we can – not ignore and defeat them by incompetence, neglect, or intent.
I’m running so we can Put Community First together.