Here's why:

COMMON SENSE:  Sometimes I wonder if this isn't the most important reason of all.  All too often I watch various levels of government and shake my head in disbelief.  Where has the common sense of our leadership gone?  I have and use common sense in all my decisions and I can't say it enough: "COMMON SENSE!" This community is full of very smart people with a healthy share of common sense and I will continue to use their input to assist my decision making.

A PERSON OF THE PEOPLE: I am an average blue collar small business owner working to make ends meet like most of you.  I know how it is to get your hands dirty and sweat for a living because I do it every day, just like most of you.  I will continue to listen very carefully to YOU, the electorate, in my decision making process.

FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY:  During these times of economic distress taxpayers want leaders who understand they can't spend more money than we can afford.   My track record on money issues is consistent and without dispute.  Since 2002 the city tax rate has either decreased or remained the same, with the exception to 2007 and numerous times in 2008 and 2009, in which I was the LONE vote against the higher rate of taxation.  I have and will continue to ask the hard questions and vote against any and all wasteful spending.  I view the wise spending of your hard earned money as my greatest responsibility.  I am one of only two current council members to be certified by the state in estimated property market values and limited market values.  As I've said many times, I work hard for my money.  I don't plan to waste it and I won't waste yours either.

The 2009-2010 budget is completely out of control considering the foreclosure rates, job losses, home value depreciation, and anticipated federal/state tax increases looming.  Look, paying $500 a year on a $200,000 house then paying $500 on a $150,000 house is a large increase in the rate of taxation.  We pay to water flowers, free movies in the park, over-charged the taxpayers $250,000 and created a new bank account instead of returning it! We also charge the taxpayers over $1 million a year in building rental charges for future building you may never see and we charge over $1 million per year for recreations deficits while other public safety areas are compromised.  Strong leadership prioritizes services and the tax dollars available.

PROVEN EXPERIENCE: My experience as a council representative has created a legislative record of conservative spending.  My proven record shows I have the ability to unite the community on hard issues.  The Dean Lake project is a perfect example.  I worked on that project with council authority while the community was divided and by the time I was done the community was united behind a long worked-out environmentally friendly master developer's agreement.  I will continue to believe we get there best, when we get there united.

COMMON SENSE:  Yes, I know I said that already, but I'm serious.  We look at Washington, D.C. and don't see much common sense there.  We sometime wonder where the common sense has gone in our own Minnesota state government.  And even right here in the Shakopee City Hall, at a time when it's needed most, common sense doesn't seem very common at all.

INTEGRITY:  I learned "integrity" as a child from my  loving mother and father.   I was taught to be honest and always stand on my morals and values.  Over the years I was lucky to have many within our community touch my life in ways they will never know.  These individuals steered my life through difficult times and have made me a better person. Some are school personal, some police, some local businesses, and some residents.  I think about this all the time and strive to help others in our community by offering my services to those most in need through either my church or the many non-profits and county programs I'm involved in.  Quite simply, it's our duty to help one another.

CHALLENGE THE ISSUES: I will continue to press our staff and consultants on the issues at hand.  I am not known for holding back, from asking the hard questions, and I prefer these questions be asked in an open, transparent public forum so the bosses (that's YOU, the taxpayers) are informed on the issues straight from the horse's mouth.  And when we don't have answers to the hard questions, I will seek to table those legislative items until we GET those answers.  The peoples' business is too important to make decisions without information and I believe the taxpayers expect no less.

PROPERTY RIGHTS: I will continue to fight for the rights of property owners.  NEVER should a family be pushed out into the streets because a government thinks it could make better use of your property for crass economic gain. I have a hard time with government taxing properties for 50 years and then turning around and taking these properties against the property owner's will because some money men think they can make more money from it.  As I'm sure you know we have a new city policy that allows the city to use tax dollars to buy up properties to give to developers at a taxpayer loss of 4-1 on the dollar.  Naturally I voted against the great tax dollar give away because I know your money is just as important to you, as my money is to me.  I'd prefer to let you keep more of your money to spend as you please. 

However, you and I both know governments raise taxes to spend on the public good.  Or at least it's supposed to be for the public good.  So how about that $6-million walking bridge to nowhere?  The bridge that should have cost only about $1.5 million?  That extra, unnecessary funding could have gone to the raising of the 101 river crossing which has flooded multiple times the last few years.  This is a perfect example of how we need to a better job of  prioritizing our spending to get the biggest bang for our tax bucks.

And just between you and me, I also believe we have a few staff members who ought to be replaced.  Some we have now don't seen have the best interests of the taxpayers at heart.

COMMON SENSE:  Have I mentioned that, yet?  Good!  Thought so.  I'm humbly asking for YOUR vote on Tuesday, November 8.  Keep me working for YOU as your Shakopee City Councilman.

Thank you,