The start of a new year always brings a sense of possibility. It is a natural moment to pause, reflect, and set intentions for what we hope to build together. As mayor, my greatest intention for the year ahead is simple and steady: to keep showing up, to keep listening, and to keep leading alongside you — no matter what the months ahead may hold.
One of the most important lessons I have learned in public service is that meaningful leadership does not happen only behind a desk, inside council chambers, or at a press conference. It happens face-to-face, in conversations at community events, on neighborhood sidewalks, and in rooms filled with residents who care deeply about this place we call home. That is why continuing our in-person engagement work remains a top priority for me this year.
Over the past year, I have been grateful for the honest dialogue that has taken place through our Let’s Talk Local events, budget town halls, and our Community Summit. These gatherings do more than share information — they build trust. They allow residents to ask hard questions, raise real concerns, and help shape the direction of our city. My intention for the coming year is to not only continue these efforts, but to strengthen them. I want to meet even more neighbors where they are, hear from people who may not always feel seen or heard, and make sure your lived experience continues to guide our decisions.
Another central intention for this year is to remain grounded in the values that make Columbia, Columbia. We are a community that believes in looking out for one another. We value education, creativity, public service, and fairness. We care about opportunity and about protecting the most vulnerable among us. Those values are not abstract. They show up in how we invest in housing, how we support small businesses, how we care for our parks and public spaces, how we respond to crises, and how we treat one another — especially when the world feels uncertain.
And uncertainty is something we are no strangers to. Decisions made far from Columbia, in Washington, D.C., and Jefferson City, can have real and immediate impacts on our community. From funding shifts to policy changes, we often feel those ripple effects quickly and directly. My intention this year is to continue leading with steadiness and clarity through that storm — advocating for Columbia, protecting our local priorities, and working with partners across the region to ensure our city remains resilient.
We cannot control every external force, but we can control how we respond. We can choose collaboration over division. We can choose facts over fear. We can choose to focus on practical solutions that improve daily life for our residents. And we can choose to keep our eyes on the long-term health and well-being of our community, even when short-term pressures feel intense.
As we step into this new year, I am deeply aware that progress is rarely loud or instant. Much of the most important work in local government is steady, patient, and sometimes unseen. But it matters. It matters when a resident feels heard. It matters when a small business finds support to grow. It matters when neighbors come together to solve a problem block by block. These are the building blocks of a strong city.
My final intention for the year ahead is one of shared ownership. Columbia’s story is not written by one person or one office. It is written by all of us — by families, students, workers, business owners, volunteers, elders, and young people imagining what comes next. I am honored to serve alongside you in that work.
