I want to begin by thanking all the citizens of Payette for the opportunity to serve as your mayor.  I have spent most of my life in Payette and, in fact, have the unique distinction of having been born at the Payette Hospital.     I went through all grades 1-12 in Payette and made many lifelong friends with whom I keep in contact.  I attended the University of Idaho and received a BS and MS degree in Electrical Engineering with a heavy emphasis on Computer Science.   My early career was working for a Defense contractor in Southern California.   I received their Outstanding Engineer Achievement Award and held both Secret and Top-Secret government clearances.    It was also there that I met my wife, Mary.   I never felt I was home in my years away from Idaho, and after 6 years and getting married, we returned to Payette.   We put our four children through the Payette School system, and some of our grandchildren currently attend school in Payette.   I started two businesses in Payette.  A Computer and System Company and an Internet Service Provider.    I have also been involved in many community organizations and am proud to have been a driving force in bringing the Boys’ and Girls’ Club of Western Treasure Valley to Payette.   My faith is a guiding force in my life and has kept me active in my church, leading me to maintain the cross on Clay Peak for several years.    I have served on the Payette City Council for 12 years, and that experience, along with my time working with highly dedicated Payette leaders, spurred me to run for Mayor.    I have many visions for my term as Mayor, but I know these are only achievable with the help of a “village”.    I hope to build a coalition of community leaders to help me achieve those visions.   I ran on transparency, and I intend to keep that promise.   I may disagree with some ideas, but I will listen to them all.  I have found that during my time on the council, you sometimes have to make decisions driven by factors beyond your control.  My approach to this again is transparency, by letting the Citizens of Payette know why decisions were made.  I was elected to serve all the citizens of our town, and I will strive to do that.   Payette has been important to me my entire life, and I hope to help push it forward in a way that continues to make it the great place we all love to call home.