A recent email stood out to me... for all the wrong reasons. We don't need partisan politics or empty campaign slogans. We need real solutions to the real issues our citizens face every day. And I believe the only way to get there is to listen to the people and understand what they need.
Hi Apex, it's Andre. A few years ago, my wife and I were having dinner with friends. We were sitting around the table not long after a school shooting, talking, venting, trying to make some sense of it. Our friend group is probably like yours, with different backgrounds, politics, and views on the Second Amendment, and it was an impassioned conversation. Everyone had opinions. Everyone had ideas about what should be done, but we could all agree on one thing: families shouldn't have to live like this. Something needed to change. And obviously, our leaders aren't doing enough. My suggestion that night: We need to change the leaders. Because Uvalde wasn't the first, and unfortunately, it may not be the last. And if we want real change, we have to start at the bottom.
Now, if you ask anyone who knows me, they'll tell you, "Andre will tell you what's on his mind." So, Apex, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Andre. I volunteered on campaigns. I phone banked for Biden and Harris, and like many of you, I still get the emails and the texts after unsubscribing and replying stop. But one email recently caught my attention for all the wrong reasons. It listed three names and essentially said, "These are the ones. Get in line."
But here's what stood out to me: Eight people are running for Apex Town Council. That tells me two things: Eight people care and eight people believe they can help make Apex better, no matter how different our ideas are. Putting yourself out there. You know, running for office is no small thing, and when this election is over, I'll still be here. I'll still run into neighbors, maybe even other candidates, at the coffee shop or the grocery store, and I'll respect what they did, because it takes courage. But here's what didn't sit right, And I'll paraphrase: If we want responsible growth, vote for our three endorsed candidates.
Okay, but what's the plan? What does responsible growth actually mean to you? Who's included in that growth and who's being left behind? There are a lot of questions. I'm starting to believe people are tired of slogans and vague promises, and just my time. Now I've talked to neighbors who just want a sidewalk so they can walk safely, others who told me the only person they hear from is the mayor, not the council members. Now that may be an access issue. I do see Council engagement through social media and SubStack, but still, the perception remains, no one is talking to us. These aren't partisan issues. The catchy slogan won't fix them. There are real problems waiting for real solutions.
Now I don't want to get ahead of myself, but I can commit to this. I will be available to hear you out, whether that's on social media, by email, or just a quick conversation at the Salem Street Pub, I want to hear what's important to you. I don't believe it's that hard to pull up our Bicycle and Pedestrian System Plan Map and start prioritizing where we fix things, one crosswalk, sidewalk, or bike lane at a time. I also believe that when utility prices change, people deserve to understand the why, the when, and the how, clearly and consistently, so we move forward together. And I know these aren't the only concerns. There are environmental concerns, infrastructure issues, and I may not have heard everything yet, but I believe we can solve them, or at the very least do a better job communicating where they fall on the list of priorities. Because look, leadership isn't talking down from the top. It's about listening and following through.
Let's be honest. If the current approach were working, there probably wouldn't be eight candidates. I wouldn't be running if that were true. I support a lot of teams in sports. If the Broncos lose, there's always next season. I'm a Yankee and Knicks fan. Enough said, and guess what, if you know, you know. And don't get me started on futball in my family, I mean soccer. But politics? Politics isn't a team sport. It shouldn't be about winning for the sake of a party. It should be about doing what actually makes things better. I'm registered as an independent because I don't believe any one party holds a monopoly on good ideas, and honestly, that email just reinforced that belief. I don't let rhetoric distract me from what needs to be said or what needs to be done.
That's something I practice with my friends and family, not because I want to be right, but because I value those relationships. At the end of the day, I share my life with people who agree with me on some things and disagree on others, and we still care about each other. You've probably heard the phrase "Don't boo, vote." Well, I decided to take it a step further. I decided to run and, at the very least, change the conversation. Apex. It's time we challenge the status quo.