What was your motivation to run for the office of Mayor of Coronado in 2008?
I had paid attention to local politics as I grew up in Coronado and as I began to read extensively about US History, I started to contemplate the possibilities of running for office some day in Coronado. When I was 24, I saw an article in the local paper listing the filing deadline for running for the City Council and I decided to make a run for office. While I ended up finishing fourth out of eight candidates, I received a lot of encouragement to run again, so I gave it another try two years later and won. I was a City Councilman for six years prior to my election as Mayor in 2008, and in that year, the incumbent was retiring, so I thought it was a good opportunity to try to make the leap from Council to Mayor. I also felt that I could provide continuity with our last Mayor because I had learned the ropes from my time on the City Council.

What do you feel is the most significant thing you do as Mayor of Coronado?
The most significant thing I do as Mayor is to serve as a liaison between the City's government and the people it serves. Many people are mystified or misinformed about how local government is structured and I frequently help people to understand how the City's government is either equipped to deal with their problems or how the City's government is not the public agency responsible for their problem. I either connect people to the resources they are looking for in Coronado or to the appropriate one in another part of government in the County. The other important aspect of my job is to run City Council meetings. It is my job to make sure that all five members of the Council have their chance to explain their positions and then to help the majority find its voice in making a final decision on whatever matter is before us as a Council.

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