Thursday, April 30, 2009

Things I would like to accomplish...

1) remove the winter parking ban. other cities & towns only invoke bans when winter weather in imminent. there is NO reason why that can not be the case here as well.

2) loosen the building requirements in the downtown zone to encourage development.

3) allow more city services to be accessed/purchased via the internet, such as:
- pulling simple building permits (sheds, etc)
- acquiring dump permits

4) enforce zoning/prosecute businesses that advertise illegally by posting signs on public property (such as the "we buy houses" or "bristol singles" signs that are all over town)

5) set up a recreation area for ATV's, dirt bikes, & snowmobiles. there is no reason we can't spare a few acres to allow residents to enjoy their pleasure vehicles legally. require yearly licenses, safety gear, and a waiver for ALL riders. riding allowed noon-sunset. anyone not adhering to those rules would be trespassing and will be prosecuted.

The Happy Campaign

Well, here it is... my first quasi-official announcement that I intend to run for mayor of Bristol, Connecticut.

So, why am i running?
Hmm. Good question. In short, I'm running in the spirit of the movie "Brewster's Millions." just call me none of the above.
I don't believe government should be run by professional politicians - at any level. I believe myself, an average Bristol resident, would make just as good a candidate as anyone else. I propose that someone with NO political experience who has never attended a meeting at city hall can do a better, more thoughtful, and more grounded job running the city of Bristol than someone who is part of the political machine here.

More about me:
I am in my 30's.
I have lived in Bristol since first grade, and attended public school here.
I commuted to college while working full time, and graduated in 2000.
I have been a Bristol homeowner for about 8 years.
I am married but have no children.
I have no criminal record.
I've worked the past 10 years in a supervisory/middle management type role.
Unfortunately I am also a recent layoff victim.

I have not published my name... because it isn't important. my ideas are. you probably don't know me anyway. But you will...

Constructive comments and questions are more than welcome, as are offers of assistance from anyone who wants to help make Bristol a better place. (If you aren't going to be constructive and just want to be a jackass, I expect that too. ;)