PAUL'S VIEWS
Paul's Views on the Issues
Under our City Charter, the Mayor is the Community Leader, the City Manager and a member of the School Committee. The future of our Community depends on having an experienced leader who can solve the challenges of:
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educational excellence;
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affordable and available housing;
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economic development; and
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an affordable City budget
I am the candidate for Mayor who can succeed in all of these roles. I will honor the strong tight-knit sense of community where people treat each other with respect, even when we disagree. My experience and shared values demonstrate my success at solving these challenges.
Educational Excellence
The goal of educational excellence was undermined by the unnecessary two-week teachers’ strike last year. As a member of the School Committee and as Mayor, I will use my negotiating experience to restore and rebuild the necessary trust between the parents, teachers and administration, and to insure that the trust flourishes in the years to come. That trust is the key to educational excellence.
Affordable and Available Housing
The future of our Gloucester community depends on the ability of our citizens who provide essential services – teachers, municipal employees, health care providers, first responders and others – to find decent, affordable places to live in Gloucester so they can stay here and strengthen the fabric of our community. I will use my Planning experience to lead the revision of zoning that maintains neighborhood character and enhances existing owners’ property options.
Economic Development
The future of our Gloucester community depends on our ability to support our existing businesses and attract new ones with City-led planning, advocacy for job creation and infrastructure improvement. This will lead to opportunities for employment, as well as revenue strengthening for Gloucester. I will use my civic and professional business experience to lead this effort.
Affordable City Budget
The future of our Gloucester community depends on management leadership and transparency of our budget which we do not now have. Our shareholders – the taxpayers – need to have confidence that they are getting an efficient well-run government for their investment. I will use my civic and professional budget experience to achieve this confidence.
Fishing Industry
Keeping Gloucester’s fishing industry has been the economic and cultural foundation of Gloucester for 400 years. Today the challenges to its economic survival are daunting, but not insurmountable. Together, the City and the fishing industry can work for a successful transition brought on by the outside forces that influence our survival.
History, Art and Cultural Heritage
Our City is unique in the richness of our history, art and cultural heritage. For over 400 years, we have made these qualities an important part of our community. As Mayor, I will be a leading advocate for recognizing how these contributions are critical to our character, and how our community can continue to support them.