Inaguration Speech – 5/13/2019

I would first like to thank the citizens of Garland for giving me this opportunity to serve. I would also like to thank my wife Katie who has allowed me to fully participate in all my meetings and late nights away from home. She has been my constant supporter and I cannot do this without her. I love you.

When my wife and I and then, at the time, our only daughter Kara moved here four years ago from Maryland, I couldn’t envision being here today. But from the moment we first moved here, we have been embraced fully by this loving community.

Within the past month, I have had the opportunity to participate in the National Day of Resentment parade with our Vietnamese community, attend the Achievement Center of Texas Gala to raise money for educating and caring for special needs students, and just this morning, answer an International Leadership of Texas student’s questions about what it’s like to be a civil engineer.

Those are examples from my District 7 alone. Now multiply that by the other seven districts and you begin to get an idea of how special a place Garland is and how you can easily fall in love with it and the people. When you love something, you do all you can to help it succeed.

That love is why when I moved to Garland, I immediately got involved with my homeowner’s association, then soon after with the city’s plan commission. Wanting to help the further city led me to join the Citizens Bond Study Committee at the end of last year and that is why I am standing here today as a city councilman. That is my intention – to work every day to help this city thrive.

I have some big shoes to fill as District 7 councilman Scott LeMay moves over a few seats to the center to serve as our next Mayor. I congratulate him and the other reelected councilmembers. I am looking forward to working with all council members as we have a lot accomplish in the next two years.

I am proud to say all eight bond propositions passed. Now we as a council must ensure they all get budgeted, designed, and most importantly, built. We together have work to do to continue the economic development progress from the groundwork has already been laid. We have work together do to keep Garland one of the safest cities in America and one with outstanding public services.

As an engineer, I had been on client side many times speaking in front of city planning commissions or city councils. Now, from the other side of the dais, I will bring that experience into the decisions I make to help decide what is best for the city.

But I am also asking you – the citizens of Garland – for your input and assistance as well. We as a council look for your guidance in each decision we make.

I look forward to meeting more of you personally as I get started with my term on the city council. I ask you to contact me any time with your questions, concerns, and even compliments. I know we will work together to accomplish great things.

Garland is truly somewhere that you can make your mark, and I’m just beginning to make mine.

Thank you and let’s get to work.