A Letter to the Chico Community

By Mary Flynn

Thank you for visiting the Re-elect Mary Flynn for Chico City Council + 2010 campaign webpage.

Thank you for visiting the Re-elect Mary Flynn for Chico City Council + 2010 campaign webpage. I am pleased that you're interested in my campaign, and sincerely hope that you will know more about me after spending some time here. As we move forward to the November election I also hope I'll have the opportunity to get acquainted in person, either at one of the upcoming campaign events or at a public forum.

It's hard for me to believe it's been almost four years since I was elected to the Chico City Council. They have been busy years and we've accomplished a great deal in these challenging times. I have enjoyed serving the community as a member of the city council. I would be honored to have your support during my re-election campaign.

When I was elected in 2006, I made a commitment to represent the people in Chico with an open mind. As your council representative I strive to be fair-minded, thoughtful and responsive to our diverse community. I take the time to listen to all sides, weigh all aspects of an issue, and then make decisions based on what I believe is best for Chico.

A top priority moving forward is to continue to provide fiscal leadership and stewardship for city finances during the worst international economic crisis in recent history. My background in business has been an important asset in facing the dual challenge of correcting a structural deficit while managing scarce resources. For the past four years, as a member of the city's Finance Committee, I have been intimately involved in managing the city's fiscal health to protect core services and I have consistently leveraged the city's resources for a maximum return on investment.

As Chair of the city's Economic Development Committee I was instrumental in creating the city's Economic Development Strategy. With this strategy in place, Chico now has the necessary tools to strengthen all aspects of our economic base to provide a stronger, more sustainable economy now and in the future. I have led the charge in allocating appropriate resources to promote jobs in support of the local economy. For example, with my support the city recently funded a portion of a new Innovation Center to focus on developing jobs to foster innovation and entrepreneurship in Chico.

I am equally proud of the work I have done as a champion of our beautiful and historic downtown, which is everyone's neighborhood because its many amenities are available to all those who call Chico home. If privileged to serve another term, I will remain committed to the long-term health and vitality of downtown and continue to focus the city's efforts in that direction.

Guiding the final review and adoption of the city's new General Plan is crucial because this document will determine the city's overall direction for the next 20 years. This broad-based community planning process was initiated and carried forward by this council, but will be finalized by the next one. It's critical that thoughtful, experienced policymakers complete the City of Chico's General Plan and act with the best interests of the entire community in mind. That's why it's important that we maintain a forward-thinking majority in the November election.

In coming years the City of Chico will be faced with many tough choices. During my first term I've shown that I am willing to be a leader and make the kinds of choices that support our great community of Chico. My commitment is to continue to represent the community with the same integrity, vision, and leadership I have demonstrated during these past four years.

Again, I would be honored to have your support in November.

Sincerely,

Mary Flynn