Investing in public safety, ending fiscal irresponsibility, and creating jobs that put citizens back to work.
Our city has cut both our Police and Fire Departments which in turn has strained their ability to provide the safer communities that we need and deserve.
Our First Responders are the ones we entrust to keep our families safe, to respond in the most dangerous and violent situations. . It is fundamentally wrong to cut public safety funding and not give them the resources they need to keep our loved ones safe.
As I’m sure many of you are aware our beloved city was featured on national television a few weeks ago on The History Channel’s ‘Gangland’ http://www.wistv.com/Global/story.asp?S=11877701. For a decade our city denied that there was a gang problem right here under our noses, and unfortunately it took a nationally syndicated station to open up our eyes. This is an issue that I have worked on for the last several years. As Chief of the Department of Probation, Pardon, and Parole Services we aggressively tackled youth crime and I regularly meet with the police officers who are charged with the incredible task of keeping our city safe from this growing problem.
We have not invested enough resources in stemming the growth of gangs and we can't wait any longer. We need Bold, New Leadership in keeping our neighborhoods safe and in providing a brighter future for our children!
On Monday of this past week I was able to officially file my candidacy to be the next mayor of Columbia. It was a great day to share with DeAndrea and our daughters.
With family support and energetic supporters like you, I hope to bring leadership, accountability, and a new vision to a city that has the potential to grow into one of the most special places in America.
However, I will continue to need YOUR help if this city is going to experience the meaningful change that we all desire. If we are to have a safe city, a clean city, a fiscally responsible city government, and a leader with vision that can bring jobs to the city then WE must work to change this city each day together!
On Tuesday and Thursday of this week I sat alongside my fellow mayoral candidates and shared my vision for the city of Columbia. Many of you took the opportunity to come out, support, and listen during these initial mayoral forums and I would like to thank you. I expressed that we simply can not continue to follow the status quo here in Columbia. We have to elect someone who has the ability to lead, to articulate a vision with City Council that allows us to move forward. I hope that those of you who were unable to join us at these particular forums will be able to come out and show your support at one of the upcoming mayoral forums that has been scheduled.
Lastly, I would like to issue a sincere Thank You to the many energetic supporters that have already helped in our efforts to change Columbia. Your ideas and comments, your concerns, your time, your support, and your energy mean a great deal to me. I ask that you continue to support this crusade for Columbia’s future by volunteering your time and resources, by expressing your concerns and ideas with me and by praying that together we can create the great city that we know Columbia can be.
Thank You,
