Public Image
Granite City has struggled for many decades to rebrand itself. Since the 1970s, the population has only declined. And for decades the population has not been the focus of the government. We all have seen the results with higher crime, drug use and abandoned buildings.
But the heart of this city, its people, is bigger than ever. My Husband and I had neighbors who aided us during flooding, car problems, and a tree knocking down a power line and a window. And whenever a tragedy occurs, this city responds with charity and donation drives.
Unfortunately this is not the public image the world sees for Granite City. The current image is the opposite, keeping potential families and businesses away, and forcing them to leave.
Changing the declining trend of the city must start with a new identity. Being in the film and television industry for over 15 years, and having a mother who was a news anchor and the a director for Fox and NBC during my childhood, I know just how vital a positive image is. Having a bad identity greatly reduces opportunity and growth. If we want not only families to stay here but also more families to move here, and new businesses to invest here, then we must gain a new image. We need to show the rest of the country that Granite City has changed for the better with a new image and is ready for progress and prosperity.
By electing the first transgender mayor in Illinois history, we can show the world that Granite City has turned the page on its past and is ready to begin a new chapter where the government represents WE the people, investing in its communities and ending the control of special interests.