The future is now!The future is now!The future is now!The future is now!

Economic  Growth in Tourism is paramount for Branson’s future. The tremendous  growth over the past 3 decades has come with a kind of duty to maintain  our infrastructure. The countless hotel rooms and theatres are assets  for the city, but it remains a risk that one day those properties could  become a burden of blight. In my municipal campaigns I have completed  many hours of research on the proper vision of Branson’s future in  tourism but the overall theme is growth.  And yet, as I’ve said in the past, we must emphasize certain aspects of  the tourist industry that fit the mold of who we are. As Alderman I  will apply a fully objective standard to the entities I vote to contract  the city funds with. This will not be based necessarily on the entities  that have controlled the marketing in the past but only on an assurance  of confidence in the vision moving forward.

Prioritizing Public Education must be at the forefront of every city  council vote. A growing Branson means regular changes for our school  district and these must be designed to be centered around our children.  Things like Tax Increment Financing can be beneficial to certain sectors  of our economy but the number of projects with this type of funding  must be controlled so that it doesn’t diminish the taxation base that  our schools get to work with. Teachers  and other public sector workers like Police and Firefighters around this  country are already undervalued as it is and the first thing that is  usually eliminated from schools is education in the arts which is  particularly important for our area. I have worked on the Planning &  Zoning board to ensure our schools exist in a safe environment and a  sector of the city that fosters learning and stability. As Alderman I  will continue to learn both traditional and innovative ways to enhance  the educational experience of our citizens and their parents.