Response to ’34K reasons why I’m running for a Maricopa city council seat’

InMaricopa.com runs, on a regular basis, opinion pieces submitted by community members. The following article is the opinion of the author, and does not necessarily reflect the views of InMaricopa.com.

First, thank you all for reading then taking your time posting comments, questions, concerns, and your opinions in response to the article I wrote titled “34,000 Reasons Why I’m Running for a Maricopa City Council Seat.” I hope this brief response covers most of your concerns. I am also willing to meet each one of you publicly or privately in appropriate forums to discuss your interests and desires for helping improve the quality of life in Maricopa for us all. In any case, I am enthusiastic about sharing with you my background, personal drives and motivations for seeking election to our city council.

I mentioned in that article, and in at least one public appearance, I have absolutely no experience whatsoever in city, state, county or federal governmental politics. Clearly then, I am not a politician. I do not consider experience in government an absolute or even legitimate prerequisite for gaining a seat on our city council. Nor do I consider prior involvement in politics or political parties any significant qualification for running for office in this city or anywhere else. To put it succinctly, politicians and leaders are not mutually exclusive.

What I do have is a demonstrable record of strong leadership abilities, enthusiasm, solid fiscal management skills and the ability to make sensible decisions under extreme stress. More importantly, I aspire to help steer this city forward with sharp focus on accomplishment-oriented projects on definite timelines.

My first crucible in leadership, innovation, adaptation and overcoming obstacles at any cost was the United States Marine Corps. I excelled to become a non-commissioned officer and legal chief. I earned my blood stripe by quickly analyzing and evaluating empirical facts, then making rapid but sound decisions often under intense stress. I learned to accept responsibility for my failures, share credit with those to whom it was due and not make the same mistakes twice.

I honed this education to the private sector where from stock boy I proved my mettle repeatedly to the extent I today–at 29–manage a seven million dollar annual inventory, three divisions, 26 employees, and eight contractors. At any given time, I am solely responsible not only to my customers, employees and owner but to the federal government for the disposition of anywhere between 650 to 800 firearms of all types.

I have proudly lived in Maricopa for six years, expecting and anxiously anticipating pledged progress. Seeing little advancement or forward thinking movement at all, I became wary of those making decisions for us all.

As I have repeatedly stated, I am just like everyone else. That, by the way, does not render you, or me–any of us for that matter–ineligible to run for public office. If anything, it guarantees our rights as citizens of this great nation to create, have and maintain a representative government of the people by the people. When did only the elite, those intoxicated with power and experienced in politics, the nastiest game of all, become the only class of citizen eligible to represent you and me?

Like you, I vote and question those who have run for elected office in the past. I am solidly behind community involvement, which, by the way, is the main reason I am running for this office.

Until a few months ago, I was not directly involved in the true inner workings of our city government. Although I paid close attention with high hopes, I saw much planned, promised and very little if anything delivered by our current representatives. It is true. I am young. You may call me naive but I am optimistic for this city and its future, a future that I will compel forward with every ounce of my determination and ability.

Risking again the label as the candidate “calling out” our mayor and city council, I do not believe our current city leaders are capable of moving forward with proposals and plans. My aim is to change that, to compel action, to perhaps even advocate term limits for our elected officials so bureaucrats do not become those all too familiar politicians comfortably ensconced in power to the extent they audaciously shun their duties, commitments and responsibilities to those of us who elected them.

Listen, I live by four key aspects that make me a strong leader: honor, integrity, commitment and having the ability to make the right decisions based on not only the facts, but input from those whom I seek to serve. Make no mistake, it will take a strong community presence to change the way this city operates, and I intend to be YOUR voice to institute the change we all want and need.

G. Bridger Kimball (www.electbridger.com)

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