SPEECH THAT STILL HOLDS TRUE

THE SPEECH BELOW, I gave to the Democratic Club last year, while running for Mayor. As I am now running for council, I still believe that the same issues and words apply. Please read through the lens of today and I hope you will agree.

Cheers,

Timothy

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Over many years creating relationships with our City Staff, I have spent a lot of time in City offices.  As you walk up to the 2nd floor, Rebekah is quite often there to greet you, engineering and development offices on the left through lobby, Anna Hudson on the right, down the hall on the right is City Secretary, with Mr. Myers Office adjacent and a little further down the next hall on the right is Mr. Bailey.  Mr Bailey and I collaborated recently with the County to install three car chargers on San Antonio street, $9000 funded by my local non-profit, of which I serve as the Vice President; FBG Shines.  We all can do better, but ultimately our City Staff is a group of outstanding people that work with the integrity our City’s mission professes.  For example, our City Secretary, Shelley Goodwin, is generous, kind, direct and professional.  Her knowledge and expertise are instrumental in how our City successfully operates.  I imagine there will be a park or building named after her one day.

One of Shelley’s many responsibilities is educating and informing us how to make sure we vote and even run for office. On my website:  TimothyEllisRIley.com, you can view her presentation on the basic responsibilities of a Mayor and Council Members.

As I am running for Mayor, I would like to highlight those responsibilities.

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  1. The Mayor is the ceremonial head of the City government, and as such is the “face” the community expects to see. I am here to ask you, which face do you expect to see?

  1. Shall be presiding officer at all meetings

I have been the leader and presiding officer in many arenas, including serving on boards, teaching university, teaching pre-kindergarten and as a theatre producer, leading dozens of people to accomplish a singular goal.

  1. Vote upon all matters, but have no power to veto

The power of the vote is unquestioned.  I am only one vote and will rely on the collaboration of fellow council members and the community to help accomplish the “Path to the Future.”  When beginning to work with city staff and our elected officials, I began to get frustrated.  Not feeling like I was being heard or listened to at all.  So I changed tactics and chose a modest goal: Post “The Path to the Future” on our city's homepage.  Published in 2018, documents like these already provide a thoughtful path to a united community.  You can now view this document on FBGtx.org.  Baby steps.

  1.  Preserves order and decorum and manages meetings 

I have attended a majority of the council meetings over the last few years.  Recently, as mentioned, I was in a county commissioners meeting, with Clinton Bailey and the leaders of FBG SHINES, asking for approval of the electric car chargers.  At this meeting, we were literally brought to the table.  Us sitting at one end and the Judge at the other, flanked by the commissioners.  This is something I have repeatedly asked the Council and City Staff to consider for our Council meetings.  No more podiums, bring the citizens to the table.  No more ropes and separation, but collaboration.  Decorum starts with promoting an environment that brings the people to the table and puts there concerns on the agenda.

  1.   Mediates conflict among Council Members

Also, as mentioned above, I was once a pre-kindergarten teacher.  Myself and 15 children.  Quite often I reflect on that time and think, what else can a person learn after successfully doing that job?  Mediate and have the respect of a room of Pre-K kids.  I challenge you.  All while mediating and earning the respect of the parents.  Usually, you earn the kids’ respect, the parents follow.  Not so surprising.

  1.  Be at meetings on time and plan to attend all meetings

I have proved myself to be present and participate in a majority of the meetings over the last few years.  This sounds simple, but how many have you attended?  Are you on a first name basis with a majority of the room?

  1.   Be prepared - read agenda packet prior to meeting

These packets can be over 100 pages long and quite often are.  I have often treated the experience of running for Mayor and becoming more involved with our City’s future, like Graduate School.  Lots of reading.  I have a Master’s Degree from Penn State University.  And for anyone who has experience with higher education and what it takes to get that diploma, they will tell you, whatever you may be studying, the accomplishment shows commitment, higher level thinking, an ability to follow the rules and work with others, all while learning along the way.  We never stop learning, but my graduate education in the City of Fredericksburg is worthy of a diploma.

  1.  Be committed to be fair, unbiased and open minded

You would never survive a Pre-K class if you weren’t fair, unbiased and open minded.

  1.   Be involved and visible in the community and its activities

I built a box maze in this very room, something my father and I have done since I was able to use a box cutter.  I have helped build schools, run restaurants, bar tended, catered, produced theatre, raised your children, built a family and spend a lot time building gardens and relationships everyday.

  1.  Be courteous to each other and to the staff

             Be conscious of body language

I have built a career in body language.  Telling stories and performing all over the country for over 20 years.  The body language of our elected officials, of which they are not conscious, shows that they are tired and worn down.  I would be too, if I had served for as long as we have asked of them. For example, Mr Kiehne repeatedly calls Mr. Tom Mussleman, Jerry and has trouble hearing and seeing the meeting even joking he isn’t the ‘sharpest tool in the shed.’  There is truth in jest, but the truth is Mr. Kiehne has set a great example in many ways during his recent term and I have learned a lot watching him serve our community.  When I ran for Mayor in the last election, I asked Mr. Hoover if I could meet with him.  I seek out our leaders to teach our new leaders.  In our meeting, I asked him if he remembered a time where I felt his body language belittled me as I spoke.  He sincerely apologized for any misunderstanding, saying he didn’t remember, and went on to say that he was very tired and worn down after 8 years.  I appreciated his sincerity and have always seen him as a mentor from afar.  The theatre Artistic Director, a job I have always wanted, who is also the Mayor.  Never thought I would run against him, but would always expect to see him and Mr Kiehne in the room contributing their expertise.  I even scheduled a meeting with Mr Hoover a few weeks ago and tried to convince him to drop out and vote for me, but we can see how that worked out.  However, know that this is the kind of leader I am, I expect us all to be at the table together, no matter the outcome.  We must all work together.  


Shelley’s power point is a terrific guide to help engage our citizens in the inner workings of local government.  If you spend some time with the words above, you might even begin to think you could be Mayor.  That is the point!  When qualifications or credibility are put into question, look at Shelley’s presentation and not only be willing to imagine yourself filling one of the many roles needed, but even be more willing to see Timothy Ellis Riley and vote for Timothy Ellis Riley, the person that best fits the job today and on May 7th, 2022.

Timothy Riley