My New Venture

Many of you know me as mayor.  Many of you know me as former president of the Chamber of Commerce here in Canby.  For many more, you have met me through my position as manager at the Starbucks here in town.  Last November, after I was elected mayor, my wife and I talked and made a decision that I had been weighing for a few years.  I chose to resign from Starbucks.

I worked for Starbucks for almost 20 years and I have nothing but praise and admiration for the company.  But retail is a tough job!  And I was longing for something more.  I do miss the daily interaction with so many of you.  But in my heart of hearts, it was time for a change.

Now, the Mayor position comes with responsibility and some weeks a number of hours.  What it does not come with is a paycheck.  I receive a monthly stipend that covers a haircut, coffee with constituents, and most of the dry-cleaning.  So I made this leap of faith with no job lined up and knowing this was the right thing to do.

I was able to spend Thanksgiving and Christmas with my family without the pressures of a retail manager or District Manager position.  I made every family gathering, all the Christmas parties and I was not falling a sleep at any of them!  I was feeling good about my decision to move on to something new.

I ultimately chose to become a mortgage advisor.  I work locally in town at Advantage Mortgage. I studied for and passed all my required licensing tests and now, I am officially licensed. I couldn't be more excited!  This new career gives me a chance to network with a lot of the people I have relationships with in and out of town. It gives me more flexibility for soccer games, t-ball games, and family time.  It also makes me more flexible to meet with the citizens of Canby and to schedule engagements in my role as mayor of our fine town.   It's working out to be an ideal position and I'm pleased.

You can find out more about my new position by visiting the company's website or by visiting my Facebook page.  Thank you for all the support and prayers from friends, family, and our Canby Alliance Church family these past six months.  God is good.

Until the next post...

Thankful

Wow, what a campaign this has been!  I am so thankful for so many blessings that have occurred since we began.

First, I am thankful for the love and support of my family.  From the moment my wife and I discussed the idea of running for mayor, to then actually deciding to undertake it, she and my children have supported me 100% and have been my biggest supporters. 

Secondly, I have the most amazing campaign team in the world!  I bet a lot of candidates say that, but it is so true.  My volunteers have walked miles and miles, going door to door for the campaign.  They have made phone calls.  They have attended and supported me at my debates and various events.  They have hosted meet and greet events.  They have offered advice and feedback.  I could not have done this without them.

I am thankful that I was given the opportunity to run for mayor.  To serve has always been something I have wanted to do.  I have a lot of passion for my town and for the role as a public servant; I am ready for the role as mayor of Canby. 

I am thankful for you, my friends and the citizens of Canby.  You've given me great ideas and feedback on what you want to see happen in our town.  Please know that you can always talk to me about what is concerning you with our community. 

Again, thank you.  As we head into the final days of this campaign, I hope to see you around town or on election day.  Come by and say a quick "hi" to me at Starbucks.  And don't forget to vote!

Passionate About Canby

I am passionate and enthusiastic about the town I live in:  Canby, Oregon.  Can you say that about your town?  I moved here 8 years ago with my family.  I didn't know much about Canby at that time, except that it was a small, tight knit community with a strong agricultural base and a great county fair.

I work for Starbucks Coffee Company.  I soon took the healm of the local Starbucks store here in town.  Management in a fast-paced coffee shop has it's challenges, but it is also a great way to see your community one-one-one.  I slowly got to know my customer's, their backgrounds, and why they worked or lived in Canby.

Starbucks believes in strong community ties and support.  It was because of this that I initially got involved with the local Chamber of Commerce.  That soon led to a position on the board, a vice president position on the board, and ultimately president, the position I hold today.  I have become even more attune and in touch with the business community because of this position.  I have come to have a keener understanding of what it means to "buy local" and support your neighbor.  It is truly evident in this community. 

Political aspirations have always been that pie-in-the-sky dream for me, that "maybe someday" goal.  As I become more and more involved with businesses in the community and as I continued to build ties with friends in the community, the opportunity arose to run for city council.  It seemed a natural fit for me.  I had a good understanding of the town and what was truly important to the community; I knew I would maintain my integrity and focus in the position; I would also learn more about the political animal that is local city government. 

I was appointed to the position of City Councilor in the Fall of 2009.  I ran for re-election and won in the Fall of 2010.  I have been honored and blessed to be able to serve as a councilor in this town.  My decisions as councilor are always made honestly and with the city's best interest at heart.  My decisions are based on what I feel are the best choices and directions for the city, tax payer money, and the livability of the community. 

As I turn to running for mayor, I am guided by these same principles:  community passion, fiscal attentiveness, and having an "open book" attitude when it comes to the issues of the city.

I heart Canby.