Cody Scott your City Councilman seat IV - (405) 612-7182

The greatest life is ongoing service.

I am a High School graduate, from Cleveland High School, and subsequently attended NOC for six semesters, studying social studies. This has given me an academic perspective on the sort of interactions that will be necessary during my service as a city councilor. On the practical side I have served as a martial arts instructor throughout the community, and am currently volunteering at the salvation army as an assistant instructor. Instruction has allowed me to hone my patience and communication skills, skills that have also been honed by my time as a Correctional Officer. At Correctional Officer's Academy, I was taught to always pick my battles carefully. This valuable lesson is one that I anticipate being enormously useful during my time as a councilor. Currently I work at Ace Electric, a business that I am one of the owners of. My experience in management and the details of owning my own business has given me a great deal of insight into balancing budgets and human resources, qualities that I feel have prepared me excellently for tenure as a city councilor.

My priorities will of course be decided by the citizens of Stillwater, but there are a few themes that have come up in all of my conversations with citizens. Bringing our spending under control is one of these. A controlled and fiscally responsible city budget is a cornerstone of good governance at all times, and much more so during a time when our city is in financial troubles. Another theme of many discussions has been the need to research, decide upon, and enact a plan of action to secure our city's water supply. Both of the foregoing will be necessary in order to address a third point that is on the minds of many our of citizens, namely the continued growth and prosperity of our city.

My suggestions for promoting a more harmonious atmosphere in city government center on communication, both within the government itself and between the government and the people it exists to serve. Every interaction should be marked by an open and welcoming attitude towards both citizens and staff. Nobody should feel talked down to, disregarded, intimidated, embarrassed or humiliated. Nor should anyone feel that the city has been embarrassed. Once these unfortunate and divisive elements have been removed from interactions involving city government, it is my belief that a more harmonious atmosphere will flourish naturally from the increased, and more productive, communication that will surely follow.

I feel what sets me apart from my opponents is my long-term vision and my desire to provide for the future of our city long past the expiration of my tenure as a city councilor. Another point of view that I feel sets me apart is my commitment to keeping open lines of communication with the citizens I serve and acting on their opinions and concerns.

Tags: Political Organization