I am a disabled Air Force veteran who served with the 62d Security Police Squadron where I trained German Shepherd police dogs. My wife, Mary, and I came to Tracy in 1982 with our three children, and we have proudly called this community home for more than 44 years. I served as a Tracy police officer and ambulance volunteer before joining the Lyon County Sheriff’s Department in 1984. During my 23 years with the department, I served as a firearms/use-of-force instructor and spent more than 17 years as a team leader with the three-county Drug Task Force Emergency Response Unit. I have always believed in giving back to this wonderful community, especially to our youth. For more than 34 years, many have known me as “Santa Ron.”
Why did you decide to run I decided to run for mayor because over the years, many people in our community approached me and encouraged me to step forward. After more than 44 years of calling Tracy home, I feel a strong sense of responsibility to give back to the community that has given so much to me and my family.
My years of military and law enforcement service taught me the importance of honesty, fairness, accountability and listening to others. I believe those same principles are important when serving as mayor. I want to be a mayor who listens to every citizen, treats people with respect and works to bring our community together. Tracy is our home, and I want to help make it a better place for everyone. I will support our police, fire and ambulance services, listen to residents’ concerns and work toward practical solutions for the future of our city.
What, in your eyes, are the mayor’s responsibilities?
Being a mayor is about much more than simply presiding over city council meetings. A mayor should be a leader, a listener and an advocate for the entire community. Minnesota’s League of Cities describes the mayor as having responsibilities that included leading meetings, listening to residents, understanding City projects and helping the community work toward its goals. I believe leadership starts with listening. If elected, I would make myself accessible to every citizen, regardless of their background or whether we agree.
for the mayor’s seat?
I would work to promote transparency, accountability, responsible spending and respectful communication. I would also work closely with our council, City employees, businesses and emergency services to find practical solutions to the challenges facing Tracy. I cannot promise everyone will agree with every decision, but I can promise to listen, seek the facts, treat people fairly and always put the best interests of Tracy first.
As we all know, small-town downtowns are mostly quiet these days when it comes to retail, at least compared to decades ago. What can Tracy do to get out of that predicament?
I believe Tracy can turn its downtown around, but we need to think beyond simply recruiting another traditional retail store. We need to make downtown Tracy a destination where people want to shop, eat, gather and spend time. One of my first priorities would be promoting and growing the businesses we already have. These business owners have already taken the risk of investing in Tracy. If we help them succeed and expand, their success becomes one of our best recruiting tools for future businesses. I also don’t want to see three new businesses open downtown just to have them close a year later. We need sustainable businesses, not just filled storefronts. That means working with entrepreneurs before they open, understanding what they need to succeed, and helping existing businesses overcome barriers to growth. When current businesses are busy, successful and expanding, future business owners will see Tracy as a community where businesses can thrive. We don’t need to to wait to save downtown Tracy — we need to build on what we already have and create an environment where businesses can succeed for the long term
