What we’ve been doing in City Hall has not been working very well for everyone in our community. Repeating the same steps and processes, hoping for a different outcome is illogical and wasteful. We entered this Fiscal Year of 2016 with a shockingly low 5.8% Reserve for catastrophes and unforeseen circumstances. In comparison, our Reserve level was at 20% in 2010. While many factors accounted for t
his decline, we are continually in financial risk due to our heavy reliance on sales tax revenue. Even with a recovering economy, City Hall has continued to reduce staff and services through attrition as employees resign or retire, combining positions as often as possible. Furthermore, our Police and Fire Departments are understaffed. We no longer have a City Engineer. We have a growing list of properties to demolish at Taxpayer expense……and the list goes on. In times of financial stress, Cities, like families, must not just reduce expenditures, but seek ways to increase revenue. Unfortunately, that part of the equation has been missing from City Hall. We need creative thinking. We need ALL employees to ask “How can we get this done?” rather than hearing “We can’t do that because….”. We need to improve communication coming out of City Hall, we need a City Planner, expand City Services, provide equal service to all neighborhoods, improve our odds of better employment opportunities, have cleaner neighborhoods, repair the worst Streets first, stop the older half of our City falling into decay, stop slumlords milking properties dry, and reduce drug-related activity and crime. In short---we need A Fresh Start with someone who will Put Hannibal First. That is why I have decided to run for the office of Mayor of the City of Hannibal. What are my qualifications?
• Over 25 years in Facilities Management providing experience and the ability to understand the challenges facing our aging infrastructure.
• Over 25 years Operations and Personnel Budget Management in private and public entities.
• Previously served as Hannibal’s 3rd Ward City Councilman---Chairing a City Charter review process and Amending Ordinances to improve Life Safety Issues.
• President of the Friends of Historic Hannibal—a group whose members have saved or renovated over 30 properties.
• Chairman of the Central Park Neighborhood Association---a group working towards improving the quality of life in our older neighborhoods.
• Membership Chair for the Hannibal Concert Association.
• Member of Hannibal Evening Kiwanis.
• Member of the Hannibal Arts Council.
• A Founding Board Member of Bluff City Theater.
• A local Small Business Owner.
• On a personal note, I am proud to say that I am an Eagle Scout. As my record reflects, I care about Hannibal. Improving our City has been my continual Goal.
