For as long as I can remember, I’ve been a builder. Not necessarily in the literal sense – although I recently cofounded CORMOR, a 3D printing construction company – but in the more figurative way.

I’ve helped build companies, such as PTBOCanada.com, a hyper-local media company, and StudioPTBO.com, a global marketing agency, and Electric City Football Club, a PTBO-based semi-pro soccer club.

I’ve helped build communities – always aiming to give back to the people that gave me so much. I've led campaigns like "Moving The Collection: The Final Portage" for the Canadian Canoe Museum, served on the Board of Directors for the Peterborough Chamber of Commerce, and chaired the United Way of Peterborough & District.

Trent University and Adam Scott Collegiate helped build my knowledge of the world around me, and I’m forever grateful. I’ve stayed connected to both, including a role on the Alumni Strategic Advisory Committee at Trent, and being inducted into Adam Scott’s Hall of Honour. I’ve also been inducted into the Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame.

And I’ve helped build a family. You’ll often see us around PTBO, discovering news spots in town and going back to see friends at our favourite hangouts downtown.

As a builder, I’m always looking to unlock potential … I even co-authored a book called What If You Could?: The Mindset and Business Blueprint for Your Life of Purpose.

And now it’s time to help build a better PTBO, and help us all realize our city’s great potential.

First off, thank you! It takes a village – even a whole PTBO – to fuel the movement we’re creating. All are welcome, and there are many ways to support my campaign:

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• Attend Events: Join us at upcoming town halls, meet-and-greets, and community gatherings. Check our Events page for dates and locations.
• Vote!: As soon as you’re able after early voting begins, and no later than Voting Day (October 26). This election is too important – make sure your voice is heard.

PTBO has profoundly shaped who I am as a father, husband, entrepreneur and community builder. This city means everything to me, and I know how much it means to residents, too. I’ve done 100 Coffees with residents from all walks of life to get a pulse of our community. What I’ve heard is that we’re not in the best place in our storied history. We’re stuck in the mud. Residents are concerned because they’ve invested in this city – their family, home and business – and expect more. They’ve told me they:

• Want their family to stay here – but quality jobs and affordable homes are hard to find.
• Want investment in things like transportation, healthcare, public safety, the arts, green initiatives and infrastructure like fixing potholes – but can’t afford more big tax increases.
• Believe in our downtown – but it doesn’t feel vibrant or welcoming at times.
• Want us to take care of our most vulnerable – but resources are being strained.
• Want to make a difference – but the system seems dysfunctional.

I believe in the power of our people to turn that frustration into hope and that hope into reality. To do that, we all need to start by answering one fundamental question: What if we could?

• What if we could tune PTBO’s economic engine – and keep our employers happy while welcoming new ones?
• What if we could make people rave about our vibrant and welcoming downtown – and ensure our most vulnerable citizens are supported?
• What if we could be a more liveable community – and reduce the impact on property taxes?
• What if we could build more affordable housing – and ensure development is done thoughtfully?
• What if we could respect our rich history – and unleash innovation that’s powered our city in the past?
• What if we could have City Hall lead boldly – and communicate openly, with high integrity and civility?

What if we could all love PTBO — and have our city love us back?

Together, we will. I have a plan to address what residents have told me needs fixing. We will have a better local economy. We will have more affordable housing and improved livability. We will have a thriving downtown. We will have fiscal efficiency. We will build a PTBO that works for all of us. And we will do it with high accountability, transparency, compassion, kindness and inclusiveness.

That hope and that plan is why I’m running to be mayor of PTBO – your mayor: to turn What if we could? into Together, we will.

I’ve met with more than one hundred people for coffee before I decided to run for Mayor. It’s a lot of caffeine, even for a high-energy guy like myself. But before I made my final decision, I wanted to do something that honestly doesn't happen enough in politics: sit down and actually listen. Not to ask for a vote or an endorsement, but to hear the hard truth about where PTBO is at.

I met with entrepreneurs, home builders, artists, educators, politicians, social workers, police officers, community builders, retirees, students… the everyday people who shape our city.

Here's the reality: If we want to unlock our city’s full potential and tackle the big challenges ahead of us, we need collaboration. We need to listen. We need to learn. What I've learned from these 100 Coffees is invaluable, and I wouldn’t have done it any other way. Anyone who asks to lead our city needs a firm grasp of the realities on the ground, without rose-coloured glasses.

I love PTBO. I understand its challenges, and I know how to boldly lead the city to unlock its full potential. I’m different. I’ve listened attentively during every conversation with residents, I speak with empathy, think boldly, act with urgency, and communicate openly.

I have deep roots in PTBO. I was raised here, went to school here, raised a family here, and started businesses here, too. I’m passionately committed to PTBO’s economic growth – it’s my top priority. I know that having a strong economy is the key to delivering the services that residents and businesses need, to making the city more liveable, and to creating a future PTBO that's even better than today’s.

However you’ve voted in the past, I represent you, I believe we’re one PTBO, and I will work for you to be your mayor.

I get it, running for council is the normal path into politics. But these aren’t normal times for PTBO. The challenges facing our city are significant and require leadership with a clear vision and the ability to implement broad, systemic change. I believe I’m the only candidate who can lead PTBO through this transformation.

My decision to run for Mayor stems from a deep conviction that I have the leadership qualities, the strategic thinking, and the commitment to tackle PTBO’s biggest issues head-on and make a real difference for the city as a whole. I want to lead from the front and bring about the transformation our city needs.

Potholes, transportation, and bylaws don't have party colours. My only job as Mayor is to do what's best for all PTBO residents, full stop. I call myself a progressive in the literal sense – we need to make actual progress against our challenges and uphold our social responsibility.

Plus, I have a track record of being highly collaborative, and I've met with folks from the left, centre, and right with the sole goal of learning how we can unlock PTBO's full potential. I’m pragmatic – I’m unafraid to take good advice from anyone, regardless of their political leaning.

I’ve lived my life seeing the world through plaid-coloured glasses. I’m highly collaborative and I seek win-win every time I can. That’s just me.

Having said that, like any entrepreneur I’ve had to make tough calls throughout my life. There’s a Michael Porter quote I like that says the key to strategy is knowing what not to do. And knowing what not to do means making difficult decisions that inevitably won’t please everyone. I’m OK with that. Because getting to the PTBO that we want to see will require tough calls – but if we make them with a collaborative spirit, high integrity and open communication, those tough calls will be well worth it in the end.

Yes, please! It’s not a costume. It's me. It’s a symbol. It represents the spirit of the water, the rocks, the woods. The spirit of the people who came before us who saw the great potential of our PTBO. I love it, and I wear it proudly.