My City Council Experience has given me the opportunity to know city residents and, to listen to their concerns and perspectives. I frequently hear, though, an underlying malaise that people sense: we are doing well financially, but there isn’t a sense of forward motion, development, and improvement. One well known official likened it to being afraid of a train that may be coming around the bend t
hat can flatten us and leave us as just another city. This angst is associated with our inability to keep quality restaurants and the confusing way with which we appear to have lost Liberty Ford. I often hear that we don’t have the charm of other nearby communities and that we are slowly losing out to places that people like to visit on weekends, unlike Solon. The reasons are many but the question centers around the type of leadership Solon needs. Our city needs a vision, and a leader that understands the dynamics of developing collaboration between city council, the staff, the business owners, the people who work here and the residents so that they are all working on that shared vision. The mayor not only must lead, but must also be actively in the community, visible and enthusiastically encouraging everyone to join in the effort to better the city. The mayor cannot wait for things to happen but must take the initiative and get things done. The mayor must also be the leading salesman for the city in pursuing new business owners, business expansion, and new concepts for retail and development. It is humbling to hear how many residents are urging me to use my background and experience in molding, leading and implementing change with a sense of urgency to help Solon become a dynamic, 21st Century city. This is why I am running for mayor. I know how to lead, develop collaboration, and to make things happen until completion. It is a labor of love and I see a community which light shines brighter and where we all are working together to develop a place where my children and grandchildren want to live.
