01/21/2022
Three Important Issues
1. Health and Welfare - Public Safety
2. Housing
3. A thriving economic and industrial base
On the frontline of public safety is the police officer who responds to the widest range of summons. However, it is this very officer that is most neglected. We must hold adult discussions on fair and equitable compensation for our police. Anything else is mindless babble. A just wage is essential; however, continuing education is fundamental.
Adequate housing is the product of thoughtful city planning. The short term approach, only a partial solution, are the existing federal, state and local partnerships wherein financial resources delivered are in fact delivered to the intended point of need and not diverted to some pork barrel project. There also must be a region-wide approach to systemic homelessness. The long term solution is as it has always been: education.
There has been a municipal effort to attract a more diversified industrial base. There must be renewed and concerted effort in that regard. If we address our most fundamental need, a well-trained and well-educated labor force, we will produce the environmentally clean industry of education.
I am a sixty-nine (69) year old married black man who came to live in Independence in 2008. This community embraced me and I have sought to give back. I am retired from federal service after more than twenty (20) years of enforcing federal labor laws and assisting businesses, industry and labor and professional organizations better understand the many applicable federal labor regulations. I have enjoyed almost every moment of it. My academic preparation with degrees in economics and real estate, along with the coaching of some incredibly talented and generous people, have prepared me well. I remain coachable, as my years in law enforcement taught me to listen carefully. Federal investigating also taught me to begin each investigation with a clean slate and not some previously held position in search of corroborating data.
My fervent prayer is that my candidacy will inspire others to consider public service so that we may preserve this republic and our representative democracy in a diverse, fair and just America. I embrace this opportunity because of the encouragement of many friends. They trust me and I trust them. I hope you will too.
