For many families in our district, the memories of the Waldo Canyon fire are still etched in our memories.

As a homeowner in the Mountain Shadows neighborhood, I deeply understand the safety concerns and challenges that face our neighborhoods in District 1. It’s critical that our neighbors feel our city is well equipped to keep their life and property safe in case of a future fire.

We deserve the confidence to know that in the moment of a natural disaster, we have evacuation plans we can trust. We must also work proactively to mitigate the chance for another fire through expanding our city’s chipping and fire mitigation programs.

During my time serving in the Air Force, I worked in operations research where I studied logistics flow in sensitive theatres around the world. As a result of this work, I have a deep understanding of what it takes to develop these types of plans. I know we can work with our Colorado Springs Fire Department to more closely study our evacuation plans and ensure we are well equipped in the event we need to execute a fire evacuation.

It’s no secret and not a surprise that Colorado Springs is growing. The beauty of our city and the quality of life we have here are a natural draw for people and businesses alike.

However, too often it feels like growth is happening to our families without input or consideration to those of us who already call Colorado Springs home.

First and foremost, our philosophy around growth should be centered on what benefits those of us who already call Colorado Springs home.

Secondly, we need to be thoughtful of where we grow. Not all neighborhoods can support density and we need to be mindful of our wildland-urban interface.

Third, we need to be intentional regarding our natural resources and impacts on our city owned utility. Decisions around growth should be grounded in the data and follow science.

I will be a champion for our neighborhoods and families on City Council. I believe we can balance the natural growth of our city while respecting our families who already call Colorado Springs home. However, we must ensure that our residents voices are heard when it comes to how our city grows and the impacts that growth has on our neighborhoods.

A recent report indicated that more than 1 out of 3 families in our region are struggling to make ends meet. Living in a multi-generational household with my wife and my 93 year old mother, I understand how the affordability crisis is hurting our families.

To maintain our identity as a family friendly city, we need to ensure we are working to bring down the cost of housing while protecting our pocketbooks by ensuring your taxpayer dollars are spent on core government services.

I have followed along closely as our Pikes Peak Library District board has resisted calls to partner with the community on a solution for our Rockrimmon Library.

Our libraries are more than a place to check out books. They are community hubs where people gather, where kids can safely wait after school for their parents, and where our community has been able to learn new skills and explore worlds and communities beyond our own.

While the City Council doesn’t control the decision making of the PPLD board, I am committed to working with our citizen-led groups to find solutions to preserve our Rockrimmon Library.

Our neighborhoods deserve more than talk and deserve a leader who will work towards real solutions to help restore our library and ensure this community asset is well supported.

Our city is situated in a high desert surrounded by incredible natural beauty. I am proud of our city’s rich tradition of protecting our trails, parks, and open spaces. As your City Councilor, I will support programs like the Trails, Open Space and Parks (TOPS) program while also working to preserve the natural wonders that make our city an incredible place to live.

Likewise, we need to be good stewards of our city’s water supply. As a city that receives only 15 inches of rain per year, we must make decisions about the future our community through the lens of protecting this precious resource.

I will always be an advocate of expanding our city’s water rights while finding creative solutions to preserve what we do have. I am a strong advocate of the creative solutions our Colorado Springs Utilities have developed with farmers in the Arkansas Valley that modernize our farmers’ irrigation systems and reduce the water needed for planting and growing.  These are the creative avenues we must continue to explore to preserve our city’s finite natural resources.

Throughout my life I have felt a strong call to service for our country, community, and neighbors.

I believe in the mantra that those who want to go far go together. That is the spirit of collaboration I will bring to City Council….one of working together with families and neighborhoods to create a safe and prosperous Colorado Springs for all of us.

As a community servant I look forward to continuously engaging with residents in our district, holding regular townhalls, and being the solutions-minded, responsive voice we need.

I want to hear from you and learn what your priorities are for City Council.