VOTE411 Voter Guide

Back in 2019, I was elected Mayor to help turn the page on the corruption and ethical issues that had plagued our City. Nearly 4 years later, I feel we have made this turn—all of us at City Hall have worked very hard to do so and we see the City of Troy shining in the positive light it should. We continue to prioritize our Public Safety, Parks & Recreation, and Quality of Life issues at the same time as fostering an economic environment that is strong, stable, and continues to grow. After 8 years in City Government (4 as Mayor and 4 as a City Council member), I believe my experience is what is needed to continue as Mayor of Troy. I look forward to working hard on behalf of the residents and businesses of Troy to keep our City the best place to live, work, learn, and play!

There has been a tremendous amount of progress over the past four years. We’ve prioritized Public Safety at all levels—increasing our police spending and training, fixing a decades-old IRS issue in our Fire Department for our beloved volunteer firefighters, working with Alliance to provide better EMS services, and making sure our DPW invests in infrastructure to keep us safe. This next term will require a heavy focus on providing the Quality of Life services our residents demand and deserve in a manner that is financially responsible at all levels. Our economic outlook is strong, and yet we always are anticipating changes and are concerned about the economic uncertainties that we see at the federal and state level. Balancing the increased Quality of Life services with economic realities, all while continuing to prioritize our Public Safety presents both an opportunity and a challenge. I look forward to working closely with City Management and fellow council members to do so.

For the past 8 years, I have witnessed the struggle between development projects and neighborhoods. I have worked hard to balance both interests, recognizing that our City needs new development to be economically competitive and also that residents do not want obtrusive developments overwhelming their quiet and beautiful neighborhoods. We are just finishing up a Master Plan update that addresses some of the most common issues that have persisted over the past several years, and I pledge that I will continue to listen to our residents’ concerns relating to development and also will work hard to bring responsible and good development projects into our City.

In 2019, I was elected with roughly 68% of the vote, earning votes from Republicans, Democrats, and Independents. I have consistently shown that I represent ALL of Troy, and not just partisan factions, even though there are times when it is very difficult. I currently serve with members of council who certainly have different partisan views than me, and yet I take pride in the fact that we are able to work together for the good of our City. Our City issues are not red, they are not blue, and frankly they are not even purple. Our City Charter calls for our Mayor and Members of Council to be non-partisan for a reason. Our residents demand that we look at the City issues in a manner that is purely best for the City, not what might be right for a party caucus. I will continue to be a non-partisan Mayor and work with members of Council who will certainly vote differently than I do at the national and state level because that is what is in the best interest of Troy.