With thanks for the enthusiastic encouragement
of family, friends, neighbors, and local business owners, I am pleased to
announce my candidacy for mayor of Hillsborough.
With thanks for the enthusiastic encouragement
of family, friends, neighbors, and local business owners, I am pleased to
announce my candidacy for mayor of Hillsborough.
It is clear that the phenomenal growth experienced elsewhere in the Triangle is coming to Hillsborough. It is not in our best interest to ignore it, try to avoid it, or worse, leave it to piecemeal development proposals. I believe we can take charge and embrace growth in a way that serves our citizens – all citizens – from those with deep roots here for generations to those who have yet to arrive.
It’s time we had a solid vision for Hillsborough. We need a vision that is insightful, inclusive, forward thinking, and economically sound. A strong vision focusing on prosperity, preservation, and pride. We need to take charge of Hillsborough’s future and set a course of action that is well defined. We need to stop tackling growth haphazardly. Rather, we need to embrace growth with a plan, forge healthy alliances with neighboring Triangle communities, and become a respected player in this region – a leader in good judgment.
Small business is a vital key to the prosperity of Hillsborough. We need to do all we can to promote sound small business, from a variety of shops, services, and restaurants in multiple locations, to long-standing firms and entrepreneurial efforts in our business parks. Our prosperity should further be enhanced by a concerted effort to preserve our rich historical, architectural, cultural, and natural assets. If we take care of what we have; work to retain our town’s character, while making it beautiful and attractive; and if we operate our town in an efficient and economically sound manner, we will be a showcase of what is right about small town America.
My wife and I have lived either in or near Hillsborough for 16 years. We expect to be here for the rest of our lives. I am ready to step up and use my talents and energy to give back to my community. What I have to offer is seasoned leadership and organizational experience, a track record for including many voices in decision making, and a broad perspective of how business, non-profits, government, and grassroots organizations work.
I pledge to be a passionate spokesperson for this town that is my home, and to offer strong leadership so our town board and citizens together can create a vision and action plan for Hillsborough’s future – a future that makes good sense and one in which all our citizens can prosper.
Tom Stevens
August 1, 2005