My campaign is focused on three main issues: 

First, I believe in the revitalization of our central city. When we have a vibrant downtown the city has a central focus, a place to gather, and a unifying core.  With the Harrison Square deal completed and the North River project in process, it is vitally important to manage these projects to attain their highest potential.  City Council must be a good steward and manager of the people's money invested in these projects.   

Second, I believe that city revitalization requires a high priority placed on economic revitalization.  In the past few years we have seen our economic base erode.  We have lost high paying jobs.  We have seen our incomes drop from about 20% above the national average to the present, which is about 20% below the national average.  Government, business, education and labor need to explore together what makes sense for Fort Wayne in the new emerging economy and then we need to proactively target and recruit business and industry, as well as encourage home-grown business and industry, that will provide a stable and growing economic future for Fort Wayne and all our people. 

Third, I believe the city council must focus on keeping property taxes as low as possible.  The basics of city government must be done and done well -- police and fire protection, garbage collection, infrastructure maintenance and repair, clean drinking water and the like -- these basics are essential to a great city.  We can manage these expenses and their impact on property taxes.  We must lobby the state government to provide more and better options for property tax relief and to provide the funding necessary to provide city services.  We must continue discussions with the county to discover reasonable ways to merge services and departments to better serve all of our citizens and to minimize cost wherever and whenever possible.