Uran: Why I want to be mayor of Crown Point

The mayor of Crown Point must always have the needs of the citizens and the future of the city as his guiding principles. Government must be about working with others through leadership and vision to accomplish goals and not just politics as usual.

I have a vision for Crown Point's future, in which the city continues to grow, but more importantly people are proud to call Crown Point home.

A strong community is built from within. If you have a strong community then others will want to join in the prosperity. To ensure this vision and to protect the heritage of our beautiful city, I already have several initiatives and specific plans that I will work with the citizens, business owners and the City Council to ensure they are enacted.

My first 90 days in office I will implement the following plans:

* Economic relief for our senior citizens

* A reduced rate for water and sewer usage on their primary residence

* Assign a senior citizen activity director

* Initiate a program to notify all eligible homeowners of additional property tax exemptions.

Storm Water Advisory Board: Create a 10-member board made of seven citizens, city engineer, planning director and public works director. This board would review water management policies that help control sediment and erosion. All recommendations will be forwarded to the Board of Works and City Council.

Improve and enhance public safety: I will work with the fire/EMS and police departments to bring staffing into compliance with industry standards. We will accomplish these improvements by applying for federal and state grants.

I have several other visions for the city that we will work hard to implement over the next four years. I am the only candidate who has communicated my plans and visions for our city.

Two major issues that must be addressed in the next administration are the parking problem within our downtown square and the development of the I-65/Broadway corridor. We will build a parking garage within the downtown square. This will complement our marketing campaign and rededication of our downtown businesses as a tourist destination. In regard to the I-65/Broadway corridor, we will attract a corporate style headquarters and top-of-the-line retail centers. This will help in providing additional employment opportunities, increase our tax base and relieve the tax burden on our homeowners.

In this pivotal time for our city, we need leadership with vision, enthusiasm and communication. I will use these traits to serve our community's best interests. I am committed to moving forward with you, the residents of Crown Point, to build a stronger community from within.