And, as great as Lexington is, we believe it can be even better. We are working hard to make that happen.

We are charting a course that will enable us to leave our children and grandchildren an even better community. We understand the decisions we make today have lasting effects not only for our community, but for the entire region.

As mayor, it is my job to ensure that the city runs smoothly -- the potholes get filled and the trash is picked up on time and that tax dollars are spent in a cost-effective manner. But we cannot stop there.

Lexington has the ingredients necessary to have a dynamic economy. Horses, health care, high tech opportunities, and the University of Kentucky are great assets. We must work together to effectively utilize and expand these resources to enhance economic opportunities for all Lexingtonians.

With smart planning, we can have smart growth while improving our quality of life and maintaining the internationally-recognized beauty of our farmland. The key is to work with innovative thinkers who understand both our need to preserve our farms and our need for thoughtful growth. With the input from the community and creative thinking by professional planners, we can and will develop a consensus about how most effectively to utilize our limited land resources.

We have an incredible opportunity to make Lexington the nation’s best place to live. Now is the time for our community to move forward. Together, we can stop imagining a better Lexington and start making it happen!