Quality of Life

I’ve listed below the factors I believe are essential to maintaining a desirable quality of life in our community. As your mayor, I will work to ensure we do not compromise these basic ideals as we work to move Tallahassee forward.

Environment
We take pride in touting the lowest carbon footprint in the state and in receiving multiple environmental awards. City residents, visitors and future Tallahassee citizens appreciate our natural resources and attention to preservation and conservation. Understanding this, we must think critically and weigh our environmental leadership against our ever-pressing need to strengthen and diversify our economy to ensure we make the most appropriate and responsible decisions for our community.

Neighborhood Preservation
As mayor, I will commit to working with neighborhoods to help achieve and maintain their desired quality of life by efficiently and effectively addressing their concerns. Under my leadership, city codes will be strictly enforced, and any new development within an existing neighborhood will be required to conform to the character of that community. I am proud of my history as a consumer advocate in representing neighborhoods and other groups before the Florida Public Service Commission, and I look forward to continuing that track record as your mayor.

Public Safety
As a core service of local government, public safety should appear at the top of our priority list. As your mayor, I will not use scare tactics that pit public safety against other budgetary needs. Under my leadership, public safety will come first. I will collaborate with our local law enforcement agencies to ensure they have the resources they need to keep our community safe now and in the future.

Education
We must prepare our future workforce for the world that awaits them, specifically by focusing on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education. As your mayor, I will support the superintendent and school board as they work to build a world-class school system through incorporation of these and other programs. I will also encourage partnerships between the school district and the private sector, whereby business professionals would engage in project-based teaching to help educate students on the practical applications of textbook lessons and familiarize them with leading-edge technology. As an engineer by trade, I recognize the importance of a strong education rooted in literacy and math, and as the father of six children, I have a vested interest in ensuring our schools perform among the very best.