I am qualified to serve in this office because (1) I am hard-working, positive, and solution-oriented, (2) I have experience in both the private sector and in government, and (3) I am willing, inspired, and excited to do the work.

If I am ever in the minority on an issue, I will be a minority leader. I will do my best to persuade the majority to compromise and reach consensus solutions. If my efforts fall short on a particular issue, I will rely on my respectful and positive communications to maintain effective working relationships and maximize my influence on subsequent policy discussions.

Balancing property rights and neighborhood self-determination is one of the key responsibilities of local government, and the answer is reflected in our zoning ordinance. People want predictability, and that is what zoning provides. It is a balancing act that requires the city council, mayor, and administration to listen to people's concerns about zoning, pay attention to the market, and find the best possible balance.

I will encourage the City to seek federal and state funding for infrastructure. Always with community involvement, I will encourage creative public/private partnerships to reduce obstacles to and costs of development. And I support policy development that requires community buy-in and thereby facilitates appropriate development.

I support the mayor's work on housing affordability. I also support opportunities such as the mill site development and the efforts of private nonprofit organizations using land trusts and other ways to reduce the highest component of housing costs. Where appropriate, I support smaller lots and multi-unit development. Income is part of the equation as well, and I am committed to strengthening the local economy and intentionally encouraging industries and businesses to grow here that pay well but have minimal negative impacts to the community.

Infrastructure is expensive, and in recent years, costs have been rising steadily. But good streets, sidewalks, and sanitation are basic needs for a city, and citizens tend to want safe and well-maintained infrastructure. Making sure the city and county operations are as efficient and effective as they can be is a high priority for me, and I look forward to rolling up my sleeves and applying my energy/creativity/open-mindedness to efforts like this. The housing industry can't be saddled with an unfair share of the costs, but people are rebelling against most additional SIDs. The easy answers have been found; now we need to dig deeper, work harder, and be more creative to find collaborative solutions.

Agriculture lands near urban centers are worth conserving. We need to address this opportunity head-on with all interested parties and find a way of doing it that supports everyone's rights, and seeks compromise. We must agree on the ground rules, and that will require a well designed public process.

I support the city's recently completed effort to rewrite the zoning ordinance. It went through a long, involved very public, open and inviting process and garnered a 10-2 consensus in the final vote. With the passage of Title 20 we now have a modernized and simplified zoning ordinance. Keeping our ordinances updated and balanced is a very important part of city council's job. For the most part, given the complexity of the task, I feel the city did a very good job.

The excellent quality of life Missoula offers will result in a continuous building and expanding of the city as a major regional urban center. How Missoula gets built will be determined by the vision and collaboration of citizens, policy makers, business owners, and community leaders who engage to direct this critically important endeavor. I look forward, as a city council member, to be an active, positive, moderate participant in the shaping of this wonderful community's future.