To the Editor:

John Rabchuk will be an excellent mayor. I have gotten to know John while working together on the board of the River Corridor Foundation. He also serves – or has served – on several other community boards and commissions. John’s longtime community involvement is a major reason that I believe he is the best choice for mayor. In addition to his community efforts, he has been a successful entrepreneur, providing him with the knowledge and understanding necessary to work effectively with the business community. Importantly, his hands-on work with various community organizations has provided John with a clear understanding that accomplishments are made by thorough analysis and productive relationships among board members and elected officials.

John’s effort to create a positive working environment is one of his greatest qualities. Being open to differing points of view and the ability to filter those views through the lens of his experience is critical to effective decision-making. For example, this ability served him well as vice chairman on the committee that oversaw the comprehensive plan update, as he listened to differing opinions and integrated those opinions into the resulting plan.