Williamsburg has been the most important community in my life. Upon moving here in 1979 to enter William & Mary, it became my home. I could not believe my good fortune then, and that sense remains today, 40+ years later. My wife Catherine and I are so grateful that we live in a wonderful place where we have raised our daughters, Emma and Sophie.
In their own ways, they feel lucky to live in Williamsburg too, and it is partly their enjoyment of our city that inspires me continue to serve the City of Williamsburg. I want Williamsburg to remain a special place for other families and for it to be a safe, welcoming, prosperous, and vital community for all people of all ages. And, perhaps most importantly, I feel I still have much to contribute. Just because my current term expires on June 30, 2020 does not mean that there won’t be much work to be done on July 1, and regardless of any current or future role I am prepared to continue that work in any capacity required.
To care for this community means we must have the strength to preserve those elements that make it precious, the foresight to embrace new opportunities that will make it vibrant, the patience to do things right, and the courage to enact positive change.
Economic development and diversification: Encouraging new businesses that complement our existing tourism economy, diversification of tourism offerings to attract new, wider audiences, and strengthening the environment for existing businesses
Downtown, Midtown and Capitol Landing Road vibrancy: Revitalizing these key areas as hubs of community and visitor activity, further stimulating our local economy
Preserving the character of our neighborhoods: Preserving the aesthetic of the built environment that helps define Williamsburg and ensuring a harmonious living experience for all residents
Maintaining the high quality of our essential functions: Promoting public health, safety, and welfare efforts, within a sustainable budget
Investing in education: Supporting our teachers and our school system for the benefit of our children and the entire community
Encouraging a range of housing options within our community: Benefitting all residents by providing options at different price points, retaining the entrepreneurs, and housing our workforce
Providing housing for the elderly: Redeveloping the Blayton Building to provide a better life experience for its residents
Fiscal responsibility: Maintaining the lowest property tax rate of any city in Virginia
Protecting our community’s environment for future generations: Exceeding the high standards already set by our Go-Green Virginia platinum designation to preserve our natural environment for the younger generation and those yet to come
Some of my relevant experience that positions me well to continue to make a positive impact on our community are:
City Council for 16 years: six years as Vice Mayor and four years as Mayor of Williamsburg
The Williamsburg Planning Commission, including two terms as Chairman prior to election to City Council
The Williamsburg Architectural Review Board
The Virginians for High Speed Rail, serving on the board over 12 years
The Regional Issues Committee, serving as the vice chairman and the chairman
The Economic Development Authority as City Council’s Liaison
The Williamsburg Beautification Advisory Committee
The Williamsburg-James City County School Liaison Committee
There is a steep learning curve for anyone when she or he is first elected to Council. Many of the issues with which we deal are complicated and cannot be easily resolved through intuition alone—they require and deserve the application of experience. I have climbed that curve and remain fully prepared to apply all that I have learned as a student at William & Mary, as a parent raising two children here, as a worker in the city for 30+ years, and through more than 20 years of broad public service to overcome challenges that face our community and to make the most of the opportunities we enjoy.
I am a public servant for the Williamsburg community, a community that has been near to my heart for over 40 years. And I am honored to serve this community in any capacity that allows me to support my fellow neighbors in the City of Williamsburg.
