“So Why Should I Vote for You?”
That’s the bluntest, and honestly, the best, question I get when I’m out knocking on doors. People don’t always say it out loud, but it’s what everyone is really thinking: Why you? Why should I choose you over the safe, familiar option?
Here’s my answer.
More Than Just Keeping Things Comfortable
Some leaders are satisfied with keeping things looking comfortable and copacetic on the surface. But surface comfort doesn’t solve the problems residents bring up again and again:
Traffic that keeps getting worse while new projects get rubber-stamped.
Housing costs climbing so high that teachers, firefighters, young families, and even longtime residents can’t afford to live here.
Citizens showing up at meetings only to feel brushed off, like their concerns don’t matter or are just given lip service.
Woodstock deserves more than quiet management that refuses to rock the boat, even when the boat really needs an overhaul. We deserve leadership that faces challenges head-on, tells the truth, and plans for the long term.
What I’ll Bring to the Table
Honesty. I won’t sugarcoat the hard stuff. If something isn’t working, I’ll say so, and I’ll invite the public into the conversation.
Courage. When rights are threatened, I won’t stay silent. Free speech, public space, and civic participation matter too much to chip away.
Fair Growth. I’ll push for smarter traffic planning and inclusionary zoning so that new development actually includes housing people can afford.
Listening Leadership. If we can’t give citizens what they want, we need to explain why, and work with them on how else to meet their needs.
My Vision for Woodstock
In ten years, I want Woodstock to be known as the kind of town that looks out for its own. A place where neighbors check on each other, where families can afford to stay close, and where no one is pushed aside just because they don’t fit the mold.
That means keeping the things we already love strong: a thriving arts program, a vibrant downtown, good schools, and safe streets. It also means making sure people can actually afford to live here, that local businesses can afford to get started here, and that driving to and from your house and work isn’t a giant pain in the ass.
Woodstock’s strength has always come from its people. When we take care of each other, we stay strong no matter what pressures come our way. And sometimes taking care of people means taking politically inconvenient action or saying politically uncomfortable truths. We need leaders willing to do that.
Woodstock doesn’t need leadership that plays it safe. We need leadership that is honest, bold, and unafraid to stand with its people. That’s why I’m running.
