The sign entering town says it all — “Unique Monticello.” As a third generation Monticello resident, I understand what makes Monticello so special, which I why I also have chosen to raise my family here. As someone who has moved away and come back, I also appreciate what attracts so many new people to want make Monticello their home, as well. A strong desire to help move Monticello forward while preserving its past has motivated me to run for City Council and represent Ward 4.

As I canvassed the ward to collect signatures for my petition to run, I was struck by the diversity of the people that all call Monticello home – from the retired to the young commuter, from the professional to the industrious, from the single parent to the more traditional family. I listened as you shared your concerns and vision for what you’d like to see in Monticello.

That is similar to what I experienced as a member of the Community Facility Advisory Committee as we made recommendations to the school board for its third attempt at passing a referendum. The committee included members who had both supported and opposed the previous two ballot questions. The reason that I believe the third ballot question passed so overwhelmingly is that people felt their voices were not only heard, but also considered. That experience reiterated the importance of listening to the concerns of everyone and building consensus through negotiation and compromise. That is what I will strive to do in serving the people of Ward 4. There are many perspectives on the issues facing Monticello, but I want to be make sure every voice is heard.

As a Sage and both a son and father of a Monticello Sage, I have a stake in seeing Monticello thrive. I enjoy following the Sages sports teams, participating in the Monticello Summer Singers, and seeing so many familiar faces around town.

As a family, my wife, Samantha, and I have invested in the town as proprietors of two small businesses – The Zybell House and the Greenhouse Café and want to see others have the opportunity to do the same. We have an opportunity to grow downtown – whether it be across Market Street or filling the vacant spaces of our existing square. There are challenges in doing so and I will need your help in navigating a solution.

Monticello is unique in its location – a short commute to Champaign-Urbana and Decatur, and a reasonable commute to Bloomington-Normal and Mattoon-Charleston. Residents can enjoy daytrips or weekend getaways to Chicago, Indianapolis, or St. Louis. It is built on fertile fields and as a center for government of Piatt County. We need to leverage our location to families considering moving to Monticello.

In comparison to other area communities, Monticello is unique in its attractiveness to visitors – whether it be to enjoy a train ride, visit Allerton Park, or explore shopping around the downtown square. We need to build on these pillars to make Monticello an even greater tourist attraction

Because Monticello was built around industry and farming, long before it became a bedroom community, it has built a unique infrastructure of services – health care, restaurants, banks, and retail, that often doesn’t require leaving town. We have fostered one of the strongest school systems of its size in the country, evident not just in test scores and college placement, but in the strong programs in the arts, music, and sports. We need to make find creative ways to expand our business base and support our schools.

The depth of community pride sets Monticello apart from many places. We take care of one another and we rally around those in need to support our people. That pride was recently evident in the 6,000-people that flocked to Memorial Stadium to root on the Sages to its first state football championship. The fact that so many alumni were compelled to experience that special day says a lot about the connection they still have with the town they grew up in. That connection to community needs drive future decisions we make.

In preserving its storied past and serving the needs of both longtime and future Monticello residents, I hope to help Monticello strategically and compassionately move forward. As someone who has been a member of the community for decades and as someone who convinced my wife this was the place to raise our family, I believe I am uniquely qualified to help lead Monticello.

I look forward to sharing my ideas and garnering your support in the coming months.