I will commit to changing how the people of Aiken County perceive Aiken County politicians. Most constituents don't even know who their respective district councilmember is nor what he/she actually does. That's unacceptable and in my opinion, it is the responsibility of local government officials to educate the public regarding what they do and how they help. Transparency, responsiveness and visib
ility. How will I improve transparency and educate the public? By providing regular communications (social media, etc) about what County Council is doing and why they are doing it. Of course, there may be times when certain items cannot be discussed publicly but I would imagine those situations only come up from time to time. Responsiveness it another key component of my campaign and something I'm committed to changing and improving. People want to be heard and feel like their opinion matters. A huge part of my career (Certified Financial Planner) is listening to people and building relationships. Listening is a skill that I have developed over my 10 year career. It's something I work to improve every single day. But, people also want to know they are being heard and want local officials to respond in a timely manner. I will commit to change this and improve response rates. If elected, I will treat my response time the same way I do in my finanical planning practice; respond to all inquiries within 24 business hours, no exceptions. That doesn't mean I will have an answer to the issue/problem, but it does mean I will acknowledge the voicemail, email, etc and provide an estimated timeline of when I expect to have an answer. Visibility is another critical component of my campaign. In my opinion, local politicians should be more visible in the community. Again, the fact that most people of Aiken County don't even know who their respective council person is, is a problem. Being visible in the community is something I already do and have done that last 6 years. My track record speaks for itself. Prior to COVID, I mentored elementary school children at Belvedere Elementary, Clearwater Elementary & Jefferson Elementary. I'm actively involved in the BES PTO and have held several fundraisers raising over $1,500. I'm an active board member of the Midland Valley Chamber of Commerce, Aiken YMCA, North Augusta Rotary Club and mentor at risk youth at the Teen After School Center in Aiken two times per month. I'm also an active member of the Aiken County Board of Zoning appeals. My family and I have lived here for 6 years and put down our roots. My 2 boys play baseball, soccer and basketball. They attend Belevedere Elementary School and I eat lunch with them twice per week. Just know I am already VERY visible in the community and intend to keep it that way. My wife (Megan) and I love this community! If I can answer any questions or provide additional clarity, please feel free to call me directly on my cell phone...803-671-8792. I am here to listen and serve the community!
