My name is Steve Dondley, I’m a candidate for an at-large seat on Westfield’s City Council. I’m a U.S. Navy veteran and served aboard submarines as a reactor operator. I’m a small business owner that develops and hosts websites and phone apps. I’m also very involved in the community, serving on the Director’s Board for the Greater Westfield Kiwanis Club, the Ward 1 Cable Commissioner, the Recording Secretary for the Pioneer Valley AFL-CIO and I continue to work on my dream of starting a New Year’s Eve celebration here in Westfield. I love Westfield and the great life it has provided my wife of fourteen years, Lorena, and our twelve-year-old son, Sean.
In my letter to the editor last week, I talked about what some of my important goals were and the concerns I’d be working on if elected. This week, I’d like to list some of my core beliefs and traits that I will strive to exhibit as your city councilor so you can get a better sense of the kind of leader I’ll be:
- I will demonstrate leadership by explaining my position on issues as clearly as possible. I think voters appreciate and deserve nothing less from elected officials.
- Constituents should be engaged with, not avoided.
- I believe the first step to improving our community is maintaining a positive, can-do spirit.
- I believe in economic progress and development, and I believe it can be accomplished while preserving the environment and our quality of life.
- I am proud to live in a country that has established principles of freedom and free-thought and has brought democracy to the modern world.
- Differences of opinion should not get personal and I will strive to find common ground and compromise with those I disagree with.
- If we do not agree on an issue, I will not consider you to be an enemy.
- I believe in listening to all sides of a debate.
- I enjoy listening to differing viewpoints because it helps me understand issues better.
- Democracy works best when citizens are well-informed.
- Healthy debate requires an established set of facts to work from.
- I shy away from letting conspiracy theories shape my arguments.
- I am not driven by any particular ideology. I think we should select the best ideas from each ideological perspective and apply them when appropriate.
- Government is not inherently evil, but we have to be sure regular people have a real voice in it and that it’s not hijacked by special interests.
- Creating a society that works for a large majority of people is very, very tough work. There are no simple answers.
- We should strive to make every public dollar spent count.
- Our city workers are our employees and if we want a well-functioning city and good morale, we need to treat them with respect and dignity.
- We cannot just cut our way to prosperity. We also need to constantly look for ways to invest in our community to improve our future financial position.
- The answer to bringing in new revenue can’t always be “no.” There are ways to raise revenue without placing an undue burden on working class and retirees here in Westfield.
- Above all else, leaders need to care deeply about people and take the time to listen to and address their concerns and needs.
If you are looking for an honest, forthright councilor who will go the extra mile to represent you on the council, I hope you will cast one of your seven votes for me.
Sincerely,
Steve Dondley
At-Large Candidate
[email protected]
413-306-3138
facebook.com/DondleyForCC
10 Kane Brothers Circle, Westfield, MA 01085
