10/27/2023
Guest Opinion in the Waverly newspaper.
It is up to you.
I seek your support for the City Council Seat that is to be filled on November 7th. My main reason to run for this position is to serve my community and be a representative of the ideas and beliefs of Ward 2. The objective of this article is to introduce myself and the ideas I will bring to the table. This way you, the people, can be equipped with the necessary tools to make an informed decision on election day.
I have been a resident of Waverly for around 17 years. I was raised on a dairy farm in Northeast Iowa, so I have a strong work ethic engrained in me. This experience has also given me an appreciation for the land and its resources along with the values of small-town communities. Previous employment has provided me with knowledge in home construction, and the 13 years in the earthmoving and grading industry broadened my understanding of the Iowa DOT, road construction and road maintenance. A transition to the manufacturing world and a BSC degree from UNI has exposed me to continuous improvement and waste reduction ideas to boost bottom line efficiencies. This comprehensive background and acquired knowledge would be an asset in the fulfilment of the city council position.
One main area of focus is financial responsibility and wise spending. It is often easy to spend freely, especially if it is coming from a checkbook that isn’t yours. With the increase on essential goods, utilities, healthcare, interest rates, and property taxes, fixed income households, whether working or retired, are experiencing financial stress. With the dollar stretched so thin, we should focus on meeting the community needs and limiting or pausing wants to create an affordable city to live in. Tax dollars are a resource not a free will donation that should receive prudent stewardship.
To remain healthy, a city must grow. One of the best ways to grow is to provide a welcoming, supportive environment for small businesses. Small businesses are not only the backbone of Iowa, but this nation as well. They provide needed services and in return help broaden the tax base and infuse dollars to other entities within the communities where they are located. Waverly should be an attractive place for small family-owned businesses and entrepreneurs looking to promote and expand their brand. Affordable is attractive, and a city needs to be attractive to recruit businesses and residents. Affordable also helps to retain the population that is currently in the city, keeping the tax base sizeable.
As the world continues to expand and grow closer together, new threats to the citizens of the city arise. These threats sometimes can be caused by an overabundance of caution by elected officials. Even though they are attempting to protect, sometimes they overstep and suppress our Constitutional Rights. Government at the local level is the most representative due to its inherent nature. This local level is the starting point to preserving our Constitutional Rights. It is the duty of the citizen to stand up and challenge any violation of these liberties at the local level. If left unchecked, these freedoms can slowly be eroded, and once they are gone, it may be a difficult journey, if not impossible, to restore.
Any task I choose to take up I see through to the end striving to do my best and learning along the way. I remain committed to areas of focus which are financial responsibility, encouraging small business, and protecting individual freedoms. If I am elected your city council representative, I will represent Ward 2 with honesty and integrity, doing what is best for those I serve and the city of Waverly as well.
Thank you for taking the time to learn more about me and what I would like to do for the city of Waverly. I would be honored to have your support and serve my community.
James Rademacher.
