1) A Steady Hand to Help Shape our Future: American Canyon is an inspiring story of community spirit and self-determination. Since incorporation, we have built up a flourishing economy, new schools, world class amenities, and strong public services. Our community’s vitality and quality of life has been noticed far and wide- including CNN/Money Magazine’s® list of “100 Best Places to Live and Launch a Business!”

American Canyon was ready for good economic opportunities, and we are now in a strong position to leverage what we have built, to choose what we most want for our future, and to secure our rightful place in the regional economy. I believe that it is very important for American Canyon to choose the economic development that we most want - meeting resident needs and helping us to grow as an attractive destination. We must also take steps to support a sustainable workforce and the existing business community and ensure that quality businesses remain and thrive here in American Canyon.

Additionally, as a Planning Commissioner, I consistently emphasized using the best ideas in smart growth and planning. American Canyon is perfectly positioned to incorporate these principles today and to shape a great future for our city. These principles include: walkable neighborhoods, New Urbanism design, preservation and enjoyment of open space, and using green, sustainable technology that will protect our environment while saving us energy, water and money.

2) Building Consensus Leadership and Regional Cooperation– I am running for City Council- for the opportunity to serve the community that warmly welcomed my wife and me, and made the dream of home ownership a reality for us.

I am not running against any one person or project. Divisiveness is not a part of any future that American Canyon citizens talk to me about. This is a city with too many great things happening- and too many important choices to make- to be divided among ourselves, or left out of regional decision-making.

Whether it was writing our Planning Commission’s official response to the County’s draft General Plan- challenging the original proposals for our boundaries, or speaking out in my weekly column in the Napa Valley Register, I have been a passionate advocate for American Canyon, and an enthusiastic voice extolling the great aspects of our city. I served on the original Citizen’s Advisory Committee for Napas' Transportation Future with the Napa County Transportation and Planning Agency, and as president of one of the largest grassroots political organizations in the county I developed positive relationships with numerous city and county decision-makers and our elected representatives in the State Legislature and in Congress.

Increasingly, the challenges that face American Canyon - such as traffic, water and housing- are regional in their scope and best addressed by cooperative approaches that won’t saddle any one community with the responsibility or expense of fixing them on their own. As someone who has demonstrated his commitment to the best interests of American Canyon, I will bring the necessary insights, diplomacy and relationships to make sure we have a strong voice at the table and access to the resources we need. I want to serve American Canyon as both a forceful advocate, and as a representative to the regional decision-making table who will make our city proud.

3) Preserving and Promoting our Quality of Life- The CNN/Money Magazine ® "100 Best Places to Live and Launch a Business" award wasn’t just recognition of our business community, but also of American Canyon’s high quality of life. Not only do we live in the most beautiful place in the country, but we have great schools, great services, great businesses, abundant open space, and a sense of community that I have not found anywhere else.

Vital to American Canyon’s future is ensuring that that same high quality of life, natural beauty, rural tradition, and spirit of community is preserved and etched into our city character for all time.

I am committed to the preservation of open space, particularly with the new opportunities along our eastern hills and the wetlands edge. My goal is that American Canyon will be as well known for our open space as we have been for growth. I am an advocate of walkable neighborhoods with natural views in all parts of town, of connecting parks and green spaces at every opportunity and planning our city around people, families and nature.

Having worked in public safety, I am committed to partnering with our city’s agencies to ensure that our police, fire, EMS and public works continue to be cutting-edge, responsive, and community-focused professionals. I believe that strong code enforcement, community policing and perhaps most important- building community services- are among our best resources for promoting safety and a continued high quality of life.

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