Recipes for a Healthy You that don't Involve Cooking: My bid for City Council

On Thursday, January 3, 2013, I pulled petitions to run for Dearborn City Council.  On Tuesday, January 15, 2013 this press release was sent to the media: http://www.dearbornfreepress.com/2013/01/15/colette-richards-announces-bid-for-dearborn-city-council/ .  My campaign committee is already hard at work spreading the word and getting residents all over Dearborn signing my petitions.  I have a wonderful team behind me and I’m excited to kick my campaign off in high gear. 

I believe that we need some changes and some fresh ideas in order to move Dearborn forward in the 21st century.   As much of a great place it is to live, we need to re-evaluate what is working and what is not.  We need to move forward and start redesigning what Dearborn is.  Some of the best things of Dearborn need to stay and some need to be tweaked and adjusted.  Our neighborhoods need to be focused on with ways to fill the empty and foreclosed homes.  We need to make sure we focus on our pools and parks as well.  We need to market Dearborn as THE place to live.  Being centrally located makes us prime for bringing in new families and home owners.  It’s time to take back our neighborhoods and make them strong again.  I also believe that we need to find a way to attract new businesses to fill in the vacancies that are along Michigan Ave.  We have restaurants but minimal places to shop or have fun.  Encouraging new businesses to open here will yield us possible jobs for our residents and bring in new revenue. 

I love living here in Dearborn.  I love the diversity, the schools, the neighborhoods and I do my best to keep my money in Dearborn by shopping here whenever possible.  Over the past 15 years I’ve come to love Dearborn as if I were born and raised here.  I have a strong sense of community and a true desire to make Dearborn a city where my children can grow up and continue to enjoy life here with their own families.  I want to make sure that the decisions we make today will positively impact the residents of tomorrow. 

I’m very passionate about this city and I want to make sure that we take care of it.  With my strong work ethic and my desire to do what’s right for all citizens, I feel that I will be the voice of the people.  Being elected by my fellow residents will be a huge honor and one that I will take very seriously.  You can rest assured that when I set my mind to do something, it gets done.   I’m focused; goal oriented and have a positive attitude.  My proven leadership skills have helped in many situations including settling conflicts and mediating when necessary to come to a compromise or solution to their issues.  As a parent advocate, I have learned how to effectively calm a very stressful situation with passionate parents.  I know when to be enthusiastic and when to be diplomatic.  I truly believe that my previous experience has molded me into a strong, independent thinker and one who will look for the BEST solution for all involved. 

Please check out my Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/ColetteRichardsForDearborn, for more information about me or you can check out my website http://coletterichards.com .

I think one of the best ways to find out about someone is by meeting them and talking to them or by talking to those that know them best. On Monday, February 4, 2013 I’m having a “Meet the Candidate and Petition Signing” event.  This is just a simple meet and greet where any Dearborn resident can come and talk to me and sign my petition if they haven’t already done so.  Please join me at Park Place anytime between 5-6:30pm.  Please note that there will be no food or drink provided at this particular event.  Joining me that evening will be one of our other candidates for City Council, Michael Albano.  We both welcome and encourage you to come visit us and meet us. 

If you have never read my blogs, please take the time to check them out.  One of my favorite blogs is http://dearborn.patch.com/blog_posts/recipes-for-a-healthy-you-that-dont....  This one also ranks high on my community blogs list… http://dearborn.patch.com/blog_posts/recipes-for-a-healthy-you-that-dont... .  There are plenty of other blogs that aren’t directly about the community so please check out the rest of my blogs.  By reading them, I believe you will get a better idea of who I am and what I stand for.  I encourage you to educate yourself about the people running for office this year.  Be an educated voter, one who has done their homework and will vote with confidence knowing who is right for the job. 

I am that person, the one that is right for the job.  I am up to the task. I think things through and don’t make decisions lightly.  I feel that this is the right time for me to run for City Council and become your voice, the voice for Dearborn.