Chesterfield has been your home for many years. What made you fall in love with this community when you first arrived and what still inspires you about it today?
"Chesterfield has been my home for nearly 50 years. I’ve had the pleasure of watching our city grow, innovate and overcome challenges. Chesterfield isn't just where I live, it's where I've invested my expertise and efforts. It’s where my wife and I have raised our two children in the Parkway School District, I coached at the local YMCA, served on boards and owned businesses."
You have a diverse and accomplished background. Which experiences in your career or personal life have most shaped the leader you are now as mayor?
"My professional background is in planning and engineering, which helped enable me to have a vision for what Chesterfield can be in 10-20 years in the future. I know how to define a problem and establish the physical and financial infrastructure to find the solution. At the founding of Chesterfield in 1988, I was appointed to the first board of adjustment commission, and I've remained involved with the city ever since, whether on city council or now as mayor. A commitment to serving the community is a value my family has always instilled in me."
What do you see as Chesterfield’s greatest strengths, the qualities that make it such a special place to live, work and raise a family?
"Chesterfield is rooted in strong neighborhoods, responsive services and an actively engaged community. With some of the top school districts in the state, it continues to be one of the best places to start and raise a family. Our location between the Missouri and Mississippi River valleys positions us as a major contributor in the agricultural industry, with 90 percent of all U.S. grain imports moving through this corridor. Many leading companies in this sector also call Chesterfield home.
I recognize the importance of cultivating community alongside these industry leaders and remain committed to preserving our small-town atmosphere within our tree-lined neighborhoods. Chesterfield’s bikable and walkable plan is now nearing completion, and once finished, residents will be able to start in Central Park and run or bike a full marathon throughout the city."
As someone who has watched Chesterfield grow and evolve for decades, what changes make you most proud, and what opportunities excite you for the future?
"Our commitment is to creating a community where entertainment, commercial growth and shared values come together every day. One project I’m especially excited about is the $2 billion downtown revitalization planned for the former Chesterfield Mall site. While the development is privately led, the city is shaping the vision to ensure it becomes a sustainable, mixed-use district. The plan includes one million square feet of office space, 600,000 square feet of retail and roughly 2,400 housing units centered around public park space. It's designed to be a true live/work/play destination."
When you’re not focusing on city leadership, what do you enjoy doing in your free time? Any personal traditions, favorite spots in Chesterfield or hobbies people may not know about?
"I'm the head martial arts instructor for judo at the local YMCA and have also taught taekwondo. I've been practicing those disciplines since my young adulthood."
What's your hope for Chesterfield over the next decade, and what legacy would you love to leave as mayor of this city you’ve called home for more than 40-plus years?
"I would love to be remembered as a dedicated public servant, and not a politician."