Public Safety
Public safety is my top priority, safe streets, safe schools, and safe communities are essential to a healthy growing city. Lakewood has come a long way since we incorporated 13 years ago. From the creation of our own Police Department five years ago, to the opening of our new state of the art Police Station. Crime has dropped over the last five years but our reputation remains. We must continue to fight crime and increase public safety to improve our image. As our economy improves I want to increase the number of Police Officers to further decrease crime and reduce the response time of our officers when they are needed. I will never support any proposal that cuts Public Safety.
Education
Education is also vital to the health of a city. As Co-Chair of Lakewood's Human Services Funding Advisory Board I am an advocate for the funding of non-profit agencies that help our children. We must help to support agencies that provide early learning, tutoring, and mentoring services in our city. As a member of your City Council I promise to continue this support, and to help the School District in any way I can.
Business
Jobs! Jobs! Jobs! Growing our business community and bringing in living wage jobs for our citizens is also a high priority. In this economy we should look to streamline our permitting process and ensure that it is fair, fast and consistent. We want to attract new businesses so we can grow our tax base not our tax rates. Completion of the Tillicum Woodbrook sewer project is a must. The proper development of the I-5 frontage properties would bring in many new living wage jobs and increase tax revenue to the city without raising taxes.
Neighborhoods
Lakewood has done a great job developing the Towne Center and improving our main roads. We must now start looking to improve our neighborhoods. Almost all of our neighborhoods need additional sidewalks so we can walk our kids to school, go to the park, or just get a little exercise away from the dangers of the street. Sidewalks improve the look of our neighborhood and increase property values. We must also continue to maintain and enhance our parks for all to enjoy.