In recent weeks, I have learned just how tough local elections can be. I have spoken with I-don’t-know-how-many voters. I have knocked on hundreds of doors. I have given my pitch to many groups, from the Student Government Association to the AARP, from Coffee with the Candidates to, yes, the League of Women Voters. I have passed out campaign literature at Steppin’ Out and Gobblerfest, and I have waved at the Homecoming Parade. I’ve even been dunked for charity.

My bumper stickers grace both small cars with good gas mileage and gas-guzzling SUVs. Homeowners who have lived in Blacksburg their entire lives have placed my signs in their yards, and so have young professionals who have just moved to the area. I have answered questions on many issues, from bus routes to bicycle lanes, from the cost of living to Costco. And I have earned an endorsement from the Roanoke Times.

While I respect all of my opponents who have made it this far, I do not agree with them on every point. One issue—one question—has emerged above all the rest, and in many ways this election has always been about this issue: How will Blacksburg grow and prosper? How will we promote economic development and maintain our quality of life?

On the campaign trail, I have outlined a vision for smart, calculated growth that allows for retail and commercial development but addresses neighborhood and environmental concerns. Blacksburg has gone through many changes over the years, and it will continue to change in the years to come. We must elect progressive leaders who will ensure that this change does not come at the expense of our shared community values—leaders who will listen to citizen concerns and find practicable solutions for the good of the whole, not those who would divide our town for the good fortune of a few.

I am running for Blacksburg Town Council because I believe my platform of downtown revitalization, smart growth, public and alternative transportation, and citizen engagement does represent a balanced approach to local government that will meet our economic, environmental, and social needs.

I am running because I want town residents to find a job, own a home, start a business, and enjoy Blacksburg’s high standard of living—because I understand that big business is not the only side of economic development in a small town, that “kitchen table” issues are what matter to many in a struggling economy.

I am running because I want to listen and respond to the needs of all Blacksburg residents, regardless of their age, income level, or station in life—because I want locals to understand the enormous talent and creativity that Virginia Tech students bring to our town, and students to understand the real impact that they have on the community at large.

I am running because I want to be an advocate for young voters, because I have experienced life in Blacksburg both as a Hokie and a permanent resident, and because this puts me in the best position to unite the town and campus.

And finally, I am running because I want to bring new ideas and a fresh perspective to the community I have called home for the past seven years. I have served my neighbors in the New River Valley and elsewhere on many occasions, whether painting part of a house for an elderly couple during the Big Event or volunteering at a home for Haitian street kids in the Dominican Republic for a local nonprofit.

On November 3rd, you decide whether I serve our community on the Blacksburg Town Council. I thank you for this wonderful opportunity, and I would appreciate your vote and your support.

Watch video of the Oct. 26 forum.