Getting Things Done

It’s been another busy couple of weeks on the campaign trail with candidate forums, fundraisers, plenty of doorbelling, and lots of conversations with voters about the future of Tacoma.

This week also kicked off Pothole Palooza, an idea I launched last year as a way to draw attention to the work our crews are doing to fill potholes and keep our streets maintained. It’s not going to solve every challenge overnight, but it’s been a fun way to highlight the basics of city government. And I have to say, I’m especially proud of our new mascot, Phil the Pothole.

Thinking about Pothole Palooza reminded me of one of the values I bring to this race: my focus and ability to get things done. Since joining the council, I’ve been one of the most active legislators, passing ordinances and resolutions on homelessness, housing tax exemptions, street racing, animal welfare, litter and illegal dumping, and more. I’ve made changes to our codes across multiple areas, always with a focus on improving the lives of residents.

That matters because it’s one thing to talk about what you would do, or to take credit for work other people pushed forward. It’s another thing to actually roll up your sleeves, lead, and deliver results. That’s the kind of leader I’ve been, and it’s the kind of mayor I’ll be.

Along the way, I’ve also heard from residents who tell me, even those who may not vote for me, that they respect me because I’m honest, straightforward, I work hard, and I do what I say I’ll do and I have done things. That’s something I take deep pride in.

At the end of the day, Tacoma doesn’t just need ideas, it needs action. We need a mayor who knows how to lead, legislate, and implement solutions that make a difference in people’s daily lives. That’s what I’ve done on the council, and that’s what I’ll continue to do as mayor.