THE ISSUES

Parks

If you have visited one of Monroe’s parks during the spring or summer, you have likely observed the joy that they bring this community. There is nothing like the sound of kids playing, the sight of friends and family conversing and laughing, someone on a walk with their dog or casting a line in the lake.

The beauty of parks is that they offer a glimpse into a recent past, where the solution to boredom was play. Time is much better spent making active memories with friends and family than it is on our smart phones.

This is why I find it so important that our city continues to invest in our parks (and trail) system. It is one of our city’s greatest offerings to our residents who, in survey after survey, place parks near the top of their priorities for the city.

If elected to council, I will be a staunch advocate for the proper investment, maintenance, planning and development of our parks. I would like to see the creation of a specific initiative by the city to increase the usage of our parks through events, activities, marketing, and by highlighting the role they play as a counter to technology, and a much more positive recreation option for our youth.

This leads me to my next point- safety. Beautiful parks and trails can only be enjoyed if people can feel comfortable using them.

Safety

Like our parks, which have always been vibrant hubs of activity in Monroe, safety has consistently been an intrinsic part of our city’s character. Monroe is both my wife and I’s hometown. We’re now raising our own family here, largely because of the sense of safety we feel. When you walk the streets of our town, there’s a familiar ease and comfort that has always been a feature of Monroe.

However, in recent years, there seems to have been a slow-uptick in petty crime, theft, and drug use. A combination of new state laws, court decisions, and the growing fentanyl epidemic have intensified these challenges. At the same time, legislative changes have hampered our police’s ability to enforce the law. The nationwide shortage of officers has not spared Monroe, either.

Our police department has room to grow, and it should. When staffing is tight, emergencies and urgent calls naturally take precedence- known as reactive policing. With more officers, the Monroe Police Department will have the resources needed for more proactive policing, focusing on crime prevention through community engagement, thorough follow-ups on criminal activities that were reported in the past, and timely responses to minor incidents, as well.

Here’s my vision for attracting more officers: Monroe’s unique character is one of its best offerings to potential transfers or new officers. We’re a pro-law enforcement community. Throughout my campaign, after speaking to hundreds of residents, the prevailing sentiment is clear: Monroe deeply respects, supports, and appreciates our police. If you’re a police officer, Monroe will welcome you with open arms. Here, you’ll find supportive city leadership, a great Police Chief, fantastic colleagues, and, hopefully, a slower-paced work environment than cities along the I-5 corridor. Much of the national policing shortage stems from officers feeling unappreciated or unsupported by their leadership. In Monroe, it’s the exact opposite, and if we are intentional about making that known than we will continue to draw great men and women to serve in Monroe.

At the same time, we need to vigorously lobby the legislature to fix the disastrous policies that they have put in place over the last few years. To do this we will need dedication, energy, and commitment. We need to work with our state representatives, our county council, and our neighboring city leaders until new laws are passed that restore police pursuit, restore penalties for drug possession, and give cities the ability to enact and enforce greater trespassing laws.

Traffic Infrastructure

For years, we have seen our roads become more and more crowded. Our city and highway infrastructure has simply not been able to keep pace with our growth. As we do for our issues with safety, we need leaders who are familiar with the policies and systems that lead to progress on these issues. I have studied these systems for nearly a decade, and navigating them will not be easy. We will need to lobby our legislators, our county council, and regional transportation groups to keep these issues at the forefront.

This problem is more than just the backups on S.R. 522, WA-203 and Highway 2. Nearly every neighborhood in town is feeling the effects of the increased local traffic that has come with our recent growth. This is increasing the risk to pedestrians, affecting property values, taking time away from our residents, changing the dynamics of our neighborhoods, and worsening traffic safety. We have a responsibility to confront this issue head-on, with a focused effort that is backed by city resources, vigor, and is established as a top priority. If we need to grow, then we need to exercise discipline and foresight in combatting the effects of the traffic that already exists and the traffic that is still to come.

I cannot promise you that I will be the reason that progress is made on 522 because, at the end of the day, it is in the state’s hands. But our local traffic? That is directly affected by your city leadership. It, too, is a concern that was shared with me in every area of our town. The government’s role is to represent and work on behalf of the interests of its citizens: if the citizens of our town say that local traffic has to be addressed, then it should be made a priority. If elected, I will ask the rest of the Council to make this one of our top action items.

Small Businesses

Our businesses have been the lifeblood of our city throughout its entire history. Having weathered the COVID slowdown or having opened in its lingering aftermath, they need our support now more than ever. If elected to council, I will do everything in my power to aid our businesses. I will seek a pro-business policy environment and will advocate for the coordination of city events with our businesses. This will not only stimulate economic activity but will also reinforce our city’s commitment to our business owners.

As a councilman, I will be an open ear to our manufacturers, restaurants, store owners, salons, coffee shops, gyms, gas stations, and so forth, ensuring they have a steadfast ally on the council who understands their concerns. I will be a loyal patron and champion of our businesses and will research and develop policies that contribute to the health of our local economy.