Turning the Commission into a Project Management Office

When people think of local government, they often think of bureaucracy, red tape, and political posturing. But as a business owner and someone who has spent years in the trenches of community development at the Frayser CDC, I see it differently. I don’t want to be just another politician; I want to be a project manager for the people of District 7.

In my business, if a project isn't moving, you don't just talk about it—you find out who has the resources, who has the expertise, and you make the connection. That is exactly what I plan to bring to the Shelby County Commission. We have the funds, we have the talent, and we certainly have the need. What we lack is the strategic coordination to get the job done.

Why Project Management?

The problems facing District 7 aren't abstract. They are concrete, literally. We have blighted buildings that are eyesores and magnets for crime. We have a workforce that is eager but under-trained. We have a public safety gap of 1,000 positions that remain unfilled. These are not just "issues"—these are projects waiting for a leader to manage them to completion.

My "superpower," as my wife Kim likes to say, is networking. But networking isn't just about shaking hands; it’s about asset mapping. It’s about knowing that we have a quilting club in Frayser that needs a space, and a vacant county-owned building that needs a purpose. It’s about connecting an aspiring HVAC technician with a residential rehab project that needs climate control.

Accountability and the Bottom Line

As a Commissioner, I will treat our tax dollars with the same scrutiny I use for my insurance clients. Every dollar spent must have a return on investment (ROI) for the community. If we are spending money on a grant, we need to ensure that the people it’s meant to help actually know how to apply for it. My commitment to holding "Stakeholder Meetings" isn't just for show; it’s a progress report to the "board"—which is you, the voter.

We need to stop managing by crisis and start managing by objective. Whether it's lowering the barriers for small entrepreneurs or repurposing the "blight we created" when we closed our schools, I am ready to clock in and get to work.