Candidate's Statement

By Thomas King "Tom" Butt

The following appears in the Voter Information Booklet:

My name is: Tom Butt

My age is: 55

My occupation is: Architect

My education and qualifications are:

-Masters Degree, Architecture and Urban Design, UCLA
-Licensed architect and general contractor, owner of Richmond architecture-engineering firm
-Only City Council member with a Richmond business
-26-year resident of Richmond, children attended public schools
-Member, Board of Trustees of Richmond's oldest church
-Vietnam veteran

I remain committed to the same principles I ran on four years ago -- improving the quality of life for Richmond residents by making Richmond a livable, healthy and sustainable community of strong neighborhoods. I will continue to strive for:

-A healthy and safe environment
-A prosperous and diverse economy with all citizens participating in the benefits
-Continued reduction in crime
-Clean streets and neighborhoods
-Well-maintained city infrastructure -- streets, sewers, sidewalks, parks and public buildings
-Efficient, responsive and open city government
-Empowered neighborhoods to balance special interests
-Quality education and recreation for youth

Although there is much hard work remaining, my four years on the city council have seen:

-Crime diminish
-The Richmond economy improve
-Dozens of public-private partnership development projects underway
-A $1 million grant-funded management efficiency study of city government