So why am I running for re-election and what do I want to do as a member of the Council? I still feel that I can make a difference. My priorities haven't changed all that much, though they have been refined:
Public Safety – Nothing is more important and I’m grateful that we live in a town that is able to enjoy our parks and trails, have kids able to walk and play, and have a community that comes together to support one another. I’m proud to have lead efforts to bolster traffic and pedestrian safety around our schools – negotiating for an additional crossing guard at the elementary school and updating the crosswalk and interactive traffic signals outside the middle school – both at the request of the schools themselves. I’m proud to support our police and the fine work they do and I will continue to support them even through the fiscal challenges the city faces.
Quality of life – We all came to Clayton for different reasons, but high among the list is the great qualify of life that is afforded to us. This means maintaining property values, keeping our schools desirable, and maintain the wonderful amenities available like our trails and parks. As we face financial challenges, we need to prioritize the things that add the most value, be more efficient with our resources, and really assess what is important to focus on and what is not. There are many areas that we can make changes to in order to preserve the great quality of life we all enjoy, while being more responsible with the resources we have.
Fiscal Sustainability – Deficit spending should be reserved for extraordinary times. As a city we need to live within our means. Before any tax increase is considered, the city should do everything in its power to reduce expenses and increase efficiencies – raising taxes should be an absolute last resort. Properly prioritizing means using the limited resources of the city in the most efficient and effective way possible. There are many areas that we can make changes to in order to preserve the great quality of life we all enjoy, while being more responsible with the resources we have.