Dear friends, neighbors and community leaders,I wanted each of you to be among the first to personally hear of my decision to run for my City Council At-Large seat in this November’s election.
It’s hard to believe that it’s already been two years since I made the decision to pursue a vacancy on the City Council in May of 2007. I am incredibly fortunate to have been selected and to have had this opportunity to serve you on the City Council in an At-Large capacity.
From east to west, north to south, this role has provided me a unique opportunity to really get to know my community, my neighbors, and our community partners. Through this experience, I’ve also been blessed with new friends from all around the community. Quite simply, it’s been a true privilege to interact with all of you over these last two years.
I believe that the City’s past leaders, and that City Council over these past two years have done well to bring Commerce City to the place we are today. Together we have laid a great foundation. I see my role on the City Council as not only an opportunity, but as a duty, to help further these efforts and to do everything I can to help ensure that the City of Commerce City realizes its full potential.
I believe that ultimately it’s only by working together rather than against each other, and by being solution and goal-oriented, that the City of Commerce City can build on the achievements of the past and realize the full potential of the opportunities that lie ahead of us. The future of ten years ago is now. What do we want the future of 10, 15, 20 years from today to look like? I believe that the best way for us to face that future is to build it – together, not to have someone else dictate it to us.
Clearly, I believe that we are at a critical juncture in our City’s history and that we can lead this City into the future, while honoring the best from our past. We need to make enhancing infrastructure, delivering FasTracks, promoting smart commercial and retail development, and implementing a sustainable plan for the growth and management of this City our top focus. Critical projects around the community like the redevelopment and revitalization of Derby and the expansion of roads and services like a recreation center and police presence in the Northern Range are all incredibly important. Furthermore, I believe it’s critical for the City to closely partner with both of our school districts, our fire department, water district, our neighboring communities and DIA as we lay out that vision for this City’s future.
I believe that we need to take care of those who have made this City what it is, as well as those that have only recently begun to call Commerce City home. I believe that now, more than ever, we need to bring people from across the community to the table and get them engaged in the process of government.
In addition to our rich commercial and industrial heritage, I see a huge opportunity for Commerce City to be a leader in sustainable growth, smart energy and a home to the people and businesses that will lead our country in this 21st Century. We have a fantastic opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to a “greener”, more sustainable path forward. With efforts like the soon-to-be built new state of the art visitor center at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge, our new LEED Silver City Hall, the new Rapids Stadium, and the Mile High Music Festival, all demonstrate the great things happening in our community – but I believe that there are even greater opportunities ahead. To realize them, it’s critical that we partner with our neighbors, the state and the private sector in order to pursue viable renewable energy and conservation projects and ultimately create an environment that keeps jobs in Commerce City while attracting the next wave of businesses that will call Commerce City home.
Above all, I’ve believe that we must all be focused on efforts that reinforce the positives of Commerce City and ultimately demonstrate our City’s viability to the global community.
Together we must tell the story of Commerce City, rather than allow others to tell it for us. I can guarantee you that they will never tell the story as we want it to be told.
As your Councilman, I will leverage my practical business experience, creativity, solid values and common sense to partner with the people and businesses across Commerce City and our partners in the region to help realize our true potential.
I look forward to speaking with each of you in the coming months, to listen to your ideas, needs and wants, and to work with you to take Commerce City forward.
Thank you all for your support and commitment to Commerce City.
Sincerely,
Jason D. McEldowney
Comments and Questions can be emailed to: jason_mc_2009@comcast.net
