What I’ve learned during this campaign.

I can’t begin to tell you how overwhelmed I am with the support and encouragement everyone has offered me while I’ve been out meeting with community leaders, business people and citizens of Louisiana and the surrounding area. I’m humbled, a little anxious but excited to become the Mayor of Louisiana Missouri, this historic little rivertown we call home.

I’ve learned that businesspeople expect more from City Government. We are failing in helping them promote Louisiana businesses, in attracting new businesses and in providing programs to help bolster workforce access and customers.

I’ve learned that the general population has lost faith in local governments ability to serve and protect. That is disheartening. I’ve learned that some of that is a perceived notion from the “rumor mill” rather than factual sharing of data and information. But a large percentage of concern comes from real experiences. Let’s face it, there are decisions that towns HAVE to make that are hard. It costs to deliver services to our citizens. Citizens expect high return of care/services. Those services are paid for with fees, rates, permits, taxes and licenses. No body wants to pay ANY of those but they are all necessary “evils”. The KEY is to manage those in the most fiscally responsible way possible. THAT is a fine line.

I’ve learned that there are groups and organizations doing SO MUCH GOOD in our community. I’m excited to find a way to pool all those resources and use those organizations to help fill gaps, build goodwill and foster a better sense of community pride.