Last night confirmed again that HD 52 is in need of servant leaders.  Here’s a good analogy.  As a father I could mow the lawn, take out the trash, and do other “fatherly” things to fill the role of father.  But if my daughter falls and skins her knee, and if I don’t (1) pick her up, (2) get a band-aid, and (3) find out why she tripped and correct it, I might be in the role of father but I am in no way being a servant leader.

That’s why the “How Can I Serve You?” is more than a slogan, but a way of operating.  And it’s found tremendous support with the voters.  For example:

Property Tax Problems.  The top issue among the voters has been property taxes.  But instead of the temporary fixes to the system, we need to replace it with a sales tax. Why?

• We’re in an urban society, so the property owners should not bear an unfair part of the burden.
• The sales tax tracks the economy better, so it’s more responsive and better for budgeting.
• Quite often counties simply raise your appraisal rate to get more money.  Sales tax would be harder to change.
• Sales tax is simpler and has less overhead.  Your property tax dollars are used to fight your appraisal challenges in district court.  This won’t happen with a sales tax.
• You will rarely if ever pay in an added sales tax the thousands of dollars you pay in the property tax.
• With the amount of people projected to move here in the next decade, eliminating the property tax will (1) increase revenue, (2) increase home buying, and (3) increase the number of business that come here for the low overhead.

This is the simple, caring, conservative, common sense, limited government solution that this district needs.  But it will require more than filling an office.  It requires listening to the voters and addressing their needs rather than wondering if a proposal is popular or not.  The question is not whether it is popular but whether it’s the right thing to do.

I look forward to meeting you on the campaign trail and finding out “How Can I Serve You?”

Very truly yours,

Stephen