Building Trust Through Principle:

Leadership, Charter Amendments, and Civic Engagement

Standing Firm Builds Trust

Montrose placed its trust in me when voters elected me to City Council. Trust grows when leaders stand firm on their principles rather than shifting with every change in the wind. Not every request can be granted, sometimes the answer is no.

I ran on a clear set of ideas. Some still face hurdles and will take time and I am only one vote on the Council, so consensus is required. You elected me based on the platform I presented, and I am doing my best to fulfill that platform now. I promised to put charter amendments before the voters so they can decide. That remains the right choice for our community.

Charter Amendments Belong on the Ballot

At the July 7, 2026 meeting, the Council rejected that idea because it was an unnecessary encumbrance to progress. A citizen’s commission of nine or even twenty-one unelected and unaccountable individuals is counterproductive and unnecessary. The people will have their vote in November. The Council is not bypassing the voters to enforce its will. We are bypassing obstructions that would keep “We the People” the opportunity to vote on the proposals.



That process would have added more delay, the very problem many residents complain about: government that moves too slowly and does nothing.

Continued delay blocks the change many residents want. In 2014 and 2025 there was no citizen’s commission prior to charter amendments going to voters. These proposals will still need Council debate, public comment, and then a Council vote to advance to the November ballot. These ideas came directly from citizen input; others came from Council members. When and if they reach the ballot, the voters will decide if they belong in our City Charter.

Facing Opposition and Threats of Recall

Now it looks as though the same folks who engineered the recall last year are up to their same tricks.  They did not like the results of the election, so they are preparing to try it again. Not based on illegal or unethical acts, but rather on disagreement with who holds the seat. That approach creates chaos, not good governance.

Our system of government is not designed for perpetual disruption and chaos. Citizens elect representatives to make policy. Change comes through elections or constitutional processes, not through constant threats of recall over policy disagreements. Colorado law allows recalls for serious misconduct, not political disappointment.

The True Meaning of Civic Engagement

Many people think civic engagement means attending every City Council or County meeting. That is not the full picture.

The real power comes down to two key things.

First, STAY INFORMED. Learn the issues and the candidates for yourself. Understand how decisions affect you, your values, and our community. Dig deeper than headlines and social media. This is exactly how our Constitutional Republic was designed to work.

Article IV, Section 4 of the U.S. Constitution guarantees every state a republican form of government. Informed citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf rather than relying on mob rule or unchecked power. The Founders knew self-government only survives with an educated and engaged public.

Thomas Jefferson said, “Whenever the people are well-informed, they can be trusted with their own government”. He also warned that “if a nation expects to be ignorant and free, it expects what never was and never will be”.

Second, VOTE. This is your true power. If you do not cast an informed vote, you let yourself, our community, and our country down. Your informed vote is one of your most sacred rights and responsibilities. It is your voice that keeps our Republic strong.

You do not need to attend every meeting to stay engaged. You can live your life and still be a vital part of the process. That is the strength of representative government. It works best when we have an informed and active electorate.

Be informed. Vote wisely. That is how we keep our Republic alive and how Montrose moves forward with clarity and purpose.