To the Editor:
I will vote for Bob Wood for City Council because the enormous challenges our city now face requires a council team that fully understands large scale, complex projects, and knows how to direct them. Right now, we are dealing with over 10 huge, high demand development and infrastructure projects with short staffing and very limited budget flexibility. Bob Wood’s unusual combination of public and private sector experience and education and his willingness to step forward to get the job done is rarely offered.
The short list: 36 years of merited promotion in government, an MBA from the University of Chicago, presidency of a school board, managing the transition to peace in a political hot spot, and a love of Alexandria that brings him home to stay. I say, let’s put him to work for us. He uses the words “serve you” more than any other candidate … and means it.
Bob Wood first contributed his time, energy and intelligence to the Mayor’s Waterfront Workgroup. He co-authored, with Nate Macek, the final, comprehensive citizen commentary on the Waterfront Small Area Plan. His keen listening and attention to both the people in the Workgroup and in the room was positive and constructive. As Farol Hamer, director of planning, noted: Bob Wood is a problem solver.
And he didn’t stop there. Bob rolled up his sleeves to establish a veterans’ business incubator to launch and transition returning service men and women. It is located right here in Alexandria and has secured the kinds of financial backing that distinguish winning ventures. We can expect to see new businesses that grow our commercial business sector.
I greatly admire Bob Wood for acting without political or profit motivation. Bob Wood believes “this is your city” and intends to amplify citizens’ voices to craft solutions that are equitable, effective and reflect our collective ability to create revolutionary change. This is our city’s most important heritage.
To those local party members who prefer to shout from the extreme ends of the political spectrum, I want to strongly urge you to build the middle ground by voting for well-practiced, pragmatic, approachable, and engaging moderates, like Bob Wood. What we’ve seen is someone who welcomes everyone to the team.
I urge you to vote for John Robert “Bob” Wood for City Council on Nov. 3 … and to persuade your neighbors and friends to do the same. We would be fortunate to have Bob on the council dais to get us through what lies ahead.
Kathryn Papp
Alexandria