Those were the words uttered to me by my daughter when she informed me she planned to run for student council when she enters 6th grade next year, and I asked a question asked of me often in regards to city council. "WHY?" I took a deep breath, thanked God for my blessing in the form of my little girl, and realized that this moment made all the time away from home, disgruntled emails, and difficult decisions worth it. Well, you can image the delight and pride I felt. I serve on Plano City Council for my family and yours.

When I decided to run for public office three years ago, I made a promise to myself that I would not make unsubstantiated allegations about opponents, make outlandish campaign promises, or pander for votes. I come out of this contested race with my integrity and ethic intact, having refused to allow a sometimes contentious campaign to tarnish the wonderful experience and opportunity to serve. I did what I have always tried to do, speak from my heart, committed to lead with energy, passion, and integrity. I spoke the truth and shared my vision to maintain Plano's position as the premier city in Collin County in which to live, work and play. My re-election by you, the voters, reaffirms my belief that this is what citizens want from candidates and expect from their elected officials.

It is with sincere and heartfelt appreciation I say "thank you" to all the people that helped me over the past months during the campaign. "Thank you" to the over 100 diverse residents and stakeholders who contributed their time and financial support. "Thank you" to the almost 58% of Plano voters who believed I was the right choice for Place 5 to represent them. The public trust you have handed over to me for another three years is something I take seriously.

I am eager to get back to directing all my focus to the business of helping the mayor and the rest of the council run the city. We have challenging times ahead. I keep in mind that challenges also present opportunities. Current economic conditions have affected our budget. Sales tax revenue year-to-date is down approximately 3% and property taxes were flat this past year. Those two items represent 2/3 of the city's revenue source. We face the challenge of prioritizing programs within all departments across the city. At the same time, we need to maintain a focus on the future by investing in it through a continued emphasis on public safety, economic development, maintenance of infrastructure, and recreational and cultural opportunities for our citizens.

I have a great deal of confidence in our city manager and city staff to execute the plan we will ultimately craft to usher us through this rough patch. Stay tuned. We will come out better in the end.

Welcome to our two new city council members, Pat Miner and Mabrie Jackson. I look forward to having you on the team. You have jumped on a moving train on an exciting journey!