MY COMMITMENT TO EDUCATION
The city and school system must lock arms to ensure every child receives an equal opportunity to succeed. We must work together to provide students with a safe environment in which to study and work. To our children and families, education is the cornerstone of a happy and successful life. For our community, education is a key component of a robust economy. If we want a skilled workforce, education must be we our first focus. We must offer education that prepares students for a market that is demanding skill-intensive jobs. And, opportunities given our well-educated graduates help reduce the likelihood of criminal activity.
As your Mayor
- I will make sure the safety of our students and the resources needed to protect them are top priority.
- I will commit every relevant office to eliminate barriers and gaps to the opportunities facing our communities that are preventing our children from succeeding in the classroom.
- I will support innovative programs, such as our high school academies, that allow students to learn about different careers. These programs give students the opportunity to take rigorous courses aimed at their selected career tracks, and offer hands-on experience through internships. Programs like this engage students in their education in new and exciting ways, and provide important experiences that prepare them for college and the workforce.
MY COMMITMENT TO ENCOURAGE AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Lexington’s Affordable Housing Program is a great benefit to our community, but our need for housing is beginning to outpace our current commitment. As we attract more citizens to the many opportunities Lexington has to offer, we must assure that we also offer housing stock that they can afford.
I believe we need a dedicated funding stream to support our program – something that currently is lacking. As your mayor, I will strengthen our partnerships with developers, while seeking a dedicated funding source to amplify the program. My goal is to create a reliable funding mechanism for our Affordable Housing Program, reducing the costs for developers as they boost our housing stock.
MY COMMITMENT TO TRANSPARENCY AND EFFICIENCY WITH OUR BUDGET
As a long-time, committed steward of your tax dollars, I will manage Lexington’s budget with responsibility, integrity and transparency. I hope our citizens pay attention to where their money is spent. I’m committed to assuring they have access to the government they fund. Balancing our need to support so many programs – from our first responders to our city parks – has highlighted my service as vice mayor and council member, and will continue when I am mayor.
It’s important to leverage the strong economy we have now in order to build a budget that can withstand a downturn. This year we saw the state phase in an unfunded mandate for higher pension contributions from the city government. We need to plan for federal and state funding cuts that will plague our city budget – and be ready for the increased pressure those cuts will put on our taxpayers.
MY COMMITMENT TO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS
Lexington is earning a national attention as a destination city. We love our visitors as well as new residents who decide to relocate here. Yet we must remember our backbone: the wonderful neighborhoods that have supported and nurtured our growth from a small town to a mid-sized city. As we continue to grow, we must focus on assuring the strength and connectedness of our neighborhoods. As your mayor, I will focus on breaking down barriers in order to build a stronger and more connected community. As l advocate for citizen involvement in schools and neighborhoods, I also will call upon a wide array of citizens to serve government. I will review procedures for appointments to the city’s many boards and commissions and seek community input to ensure diverse and inclusive representation. We must listen to our many voices and utilize our many talents.
MY COMMITMENT TO THE URBAN SERVICE BOUNDARY
The Urban Service Boundary works well to preserve our unique brand – a thriving mid-size city surrounded by beautiful, working farms and countryside. Our brand makes Lexington a destination city for tourists. The Number One reason people come here is to see the beautiful farmland. And it protects our $2.3 billion agriculture industry, upon which one of every 12 jobs is dependent. So it is very important that we maintain that boundary.
At the same time, we know that smart growth is important for our vitality as a city. We currently have thousands of acres remaining within the boundary that, with careful planning, can be utilized for the growth we need.
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HOW WE BUILD A 21ST CENTURY ECONOMY THAT LEAVES NO ONE BEHIND
Key Pillars:
- People driven focus to build a 21st Century economy to make Lexington the leader in growing jobs of the future and strategically align resources to effectively develop our workforce (regardless of age, class or status) to match it.
- Incentivize, embrace and encourage innovation to strengthen and diversify our economy to make Lexington more adaptable and forward thinking.
- Leverage the vibrancy of Lexington and its incredibly attractive landscape to enhance our quality of life and maximize the economic potential of our unique brand.
- Ensure that efficiency and accountability are at the center of all publicly driven economic efforts.
Lexington’s unprecedented recent growth has created record low unemployment levels and our government has provided a financial catalyst to attract many outstanding companies. We are moving in the right direction, but much remains to be done. To build on this momentum, now is the time for Lexington to take bold steps to create a 21st Century economy that prioritizes creating opportunities for all our citizens, leveraging our core industries and harnessing the power of our unique brand. To achieve this, we don’t need new government programs, we need smart government action.
As your mayor, I will create a smart economic development strategy based on the following principles:
- Putting people first. Lexington’s historic low unemployment rate shows that we have been able to educate, attract and retain a top-notch workforce. To compete in the 21st Century economy, we must continue to grow the knowledge-based jobs of the future. We are on the right track, but we must do better to ensure that no one is left behind.
To create opportunities for all our citizens, we must better align the skills and education of our workforce with the needs of employers. We must create strategic collaborations between city hall, our regional and state partners, educational institutions, workforce and community agencies, economic development entities, and employers to better leverage resources and information and to effectively deliver training and education.
We must create a comprehensive strategy to address our labor gaps, retraining, and reentry programs to assist those who are struggling in the workforce. We must ensure equitable access to training and education to build an inclusive economy and help remove physical and socioeconomic barriers to entering the job market.
We must also address the significant impact the opioid and illicit drug crisis has on every aspect of our community, including how it impacts our workforce and business. I have a plan to tackle this critical issue head-on and bring real solutions to our community.
Whether preparing a student to enter the workforce for the first time, or retraining a worker who is underemployed, retired or been laid off, we must work together to develop creative solutions so that all our citizens are equipped with the skills and education they need to land and keep good jobs.
- Embracing innovation. Lexington is uniquely positioned to participate in the new economy, creating an environment for the high-value, knowledge-based jobs of the 21st Century. To harness this great potential, we must build on our core and emerging industries, including health care and health sciences, agriculture, biotechnology, software development, advanced manufacturing and information technology. We must create an environment that leverages our strengths by supporting growth and innovation in our existing industries, while providing the infrastructure necessary to create and attract new businesses and jobs. Success in the 21st Century economy requires reliable high-speed Internet access and the ability to innovate. Government agencies should work together to create efficient, transparent processes that provide proper oversight, but remove outdated regulations and unnecessary obstacles to business creation and development.
- Harnessing our unique brand. What sets Lexington apart from other cities is our unique environment. Our beautiful Bluegrass landscape gives us a competitive edge in an increasingly mobile workforce. Lexington has something truly special that cannot be replicated--an increasingly vibrant city nestled in the most spectacular landscape. The balance between our city, rural and natural areas is the key to our economic development. To realize our potential to become an exciting and innovative 21st Century economy, we must harness and strengthen our unique Bluegrass brand to create the quality of life that professionals desire. Our unique brand also offers the potential for Lexington to be a major travel and tourism destination and grow jobs in that increasingly popular industry. From our global agricultural industries to our quality of life and tourism, our landscape must be a central piece of our economic development strategy.
- Ensuring efficiency and accountability. It is the Mayor’s duty to ensure the transparent, efficient, effective and responsible use of taxpayer dollars. I will hold every organization accountable for its use of taxpayer dollars. I will increase transparency so it is easier for citizens to understand how and where their tax dollars are being spent.
MY COMMITMENT TO EDUCATION
The city and school system must lock arms to ensure every child receives an equal opportunity to succeed. We must work together to provide students with a safe environment in which to study and work. To our children and families, education is the cornerstone of a happy and successful life. For our community, education is a key component of a robust economy. If we want a skilled workforce, education must be we our first focus. We must offer education that prepares students for a market that is demanding skill-intensive jobs. And, opportunities given our well-educated graduates help reduce the likelihood of criminal activity.
As your Mayor
- I will make sure the safety of our students and the resources needed to protect them are top priority.
- I will commit every relevant office to eliminate barriers and gaps to the opportunities facing our communities that are preventing our children from succeeding in the classroom.
- I will support innovative programs, such as our high school academies, that allow students to learn about different careers. These programs give students the opportunity to take rigorous courses aimed at their selected career tracks, and offer hands-on experience through internships. Programs like this engage students in their education in new and exciting ways, and provide important experiences that prepare them for college and the workforce.
MY COMMITMENT TO ENCOURAGE AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Lexington’s Affordable Housing Program is a great benefit to our community, but our need for housing is beginning to outpace our current commitment. As we attract more citizens to the many opportunities Lexington has to offer, we must assure that we also offer housing stock that they can afford.
I believe we need a dedicated funding stream to support our program – something that currently is lacking. As your mayor, I will strengthen our partnerships with developers, while seeking a dedicated funding source to amplify the program. My goal is to create a reliable funding mechanism for our Affordable Housing Program, reducing the costs for developers as they boost our housing stock.
MY COMMITMENT TO TRANSPARENCY AND EFFICIENCY WITH OUR BUDGET
As a long-time, committed steward of your tax dollars, I will manage Lexington’s budget with responsibility, integrity and transparency. I hope our citizens pay attention to where their money is spent. I’m committed to assuring they have access to the government they fund. Balancing our need to support so many programs – from our first responders to our city parks – has highlighted my service as vice mayor and council member, and will continue when I am mayor.
It’s important to leverage the strong economy we have now in order to build a budget that can withstand a downturn. This year we saw the state phase in an unfunded mandate for higher pension contributions from the city government. We need to plan for federal and state funding cuts that will plague our city budget – and be ready for the increased pressure those cuts will put on our taxpayers.
MY COMMITMENT TO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS
Lexington is earning a national attention as a destination city. We love our visitors as well as new residents who decide to relocate here. Yet we must remember our backbone: the wonderful neighborhoods that have supported and nurtured our growth from a small town to a mid-sized city. As we continue to grow, we must focus on assuring the strength and connectedness of our neighborhoods. As your mayor, I will focus on breaking down barriers in order to build a stronger and more connected community. As l advocate for citizen involvement in schools and neighborhoods, I also will call upon a wide array of citizens to serve government. I will review procedures for appointments to the city’s many boards and commissions and seek community input to ensure diverse and inclusive representation. We must listen to our many voices and utilize our many talents.
MY COMMITMENT TO THE URBAN SERVICE BOUNDARY
The Urban Service Boundary works well to preserve our unique brand – a thriving mid-size city surrounded by beautiful, working farms and countryside. Our brand makes Lexington a destination city for tourists. The Number One reason people come here is to see the beautiful farmland. And it protects our $2.3 billion agriculture industry, upon which one of every 12 jobs is dependent. So it is very important that we maintain that boundary.
At the same time, we know that smart growth is important for our vitality as a city. We currently have thousands of acres remaining within the boundary that, with careful planning, can be utilized for the growth we need.
MY COMMITMENT TO EDUCATION
The city and school system must lock arms to ensure every child receives an equal opportunity to succeed. We must work together to provide students with a safe environment in which to study and work. To our children and families, education is the cornerstone of a happy and successful life. For our community, education is a key component of a robust economy. If we want a skilled workforce, education must be we our first focus. We must offer education that prepares students for a market that is demanding skill-intensive jobs. And, opportunities given our well-educated graduates help reduce the likelihood of criminal activity.
As your Mayor
- I will make sure the safety of our students and the resources needed to protect them are top priority.
- I will commit every relevant office to eliminate barriers and gaps to the opportunities facing our communities that are preventing our children from succeeding in the classroom.
- I will support innovative programs, such as our high school academies, that allow students to learn about different careers. These programs give students the opportunity to take rigorous courses aimed at their selected career tracks, and offer hands-on experience through internships. Programs like this engage students in their education in new and exciting ways, and provide important experiences that prepare them for college and the workforce.
MY COMMITMENT TO ENCOURAGE AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Lexington’s Affordable Housing Program is a great benefit to our community, but our need for housing is beginning to outpace our current commitment. As we attract more citizens to the many opportunities Lexington has to offer, we must assure that we also offer housing stock that they can afford.
I believe we need a dedicated funding stream to support our program – something that currently is lacking. As your mayor, I will strengthen our partnerships with developers, while seeking a dedicated funding source to amplify the program. My goal is to create a reliable funding mechanism for our Affordable Housing Program, reducing the costs for developers as they boost our housing stock.
MY COMMITMENT TO TRANSPARENCY AND EFFICIENCY WITH OUR BUDGET
As a long-time, committed steward of your tax dollars, I will manage Lexington’s budget with responsibility, integrity and transparency. I hope our citizens pay attention to where their money is spent. I’m committed to assuring they have access to the government they fund. Balancing our need to support so many programs – from our first responders to our city parks – has highlighted my service as vice mayor and council member, and will continue when I am mayor.
It’s important to leverage the strong economy we have now in order to build a budget that can withstand a downturn. This year we saw the state phase in an unfunded mandate for higher pension contributions from the city government. We need to plan for federal and state funding cuts that will plague our city budget – and be ready for the increased pressure those cuts will put on our taxpayers.
MY COMMITMENT TO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS
Lexington is earning a national attention as a destination city. We love our visitors as well as new residents who decide to relocate here. Yet we must remember our backbone: the wonderful neighborhoods that have supported and nurtured our growth from a small town to a mid-sized city. As we continue to grow, we must focus on assuring the strength and connectedness of our neighborhoods. As your mayor, I will focus on breaking down barriers in order to build a stronger and more connected community. As l advocate for citizen involvement in schools and neighborhoods, I also will call upon a wide array of citizens to serve government. I will review procedures for appointments to the city’s many boards and commissions and seek community input to ensure diverse and inclusive representation. We must listen to our many voices and utilize our many talents.
MY COMMITMENT TO THE URBAN SERVICE BOUNDARY
The Urban Service Boundary works well to preserve our unique brand – a thriving mid-size city surrounded by beautiful, working farms and countryside. Our brand makes Lexington a destination city for tourists. The Number One reason people come here is to see the beautiful farmland. And it protects our $2.3 billion agriculture industry, upon which one of every 12 jobs is dependent. So it is very important that we maintain that boundary.
At the same time, we know that smart growth is important for our vitality as a city. We currently have thousands of acres remaining within the boundary that, with careful planning, can be utilized for the growth we need.