Overall Strategic Concept. To outline an improvement plan, supported by my candidacy, that supports my belief that a few small changes can lead to much better results through transparency, accountability, and improvement.
The notes from the All Day Jan 31, 2024, Council Working Session reinforce the need for improvement. A review of my notes on county council meetings over the last year or two will provide additional insight into our financial condition.
County Strategy
A strategy includes a context along with identifying expected outcomes (ends), methods (ways), resources (means), and risks.
The context and the need for change are introduced in Part 1: Brown County – A Beautiful Place to Live and Part 2: Problems, Challenges, and Capabilities
Outcomes (ends) are identified in Part 3: Solutions – Transparency, Accountability, Improvement.
Methods (ways) include a strategy (small changes, better results), internal controls, and the application of quality improvement methods and tools introduced by the Brown County Leader Network (BCLN).
Resources (means) would include me and other elected officials, county employees, appointees to boards and commissions, and other citizens who may want to invest a little time (approximately two hours a month*) to identify small changes that will improve the quality of our government (better results). Increases in participation could help overcome citizen apathy and create interest in volunteering and running for office.
*Some people may be spending more than two hours per month on social media complaining about a local issue they may not believe they can help resolve.
Risks include the cost of the status quo, which includes the costs of poor quality. Improvement results in more needs being met and less harm because of unmet needs, e.g., things get better or worse.
Citizenship, Quality Management, Christianity. A risk of my strategy is my reference to secular and non-secular approaches to improvement. I support both! For example, suppose we are working on a team that successfully reduces the number of victims of violent crime by 20%. An atheist team member could be motivated by the belief that it is just the right thing to do. A Christian team member would believe that it is an expectation of God.
Campaign Strategy and Materials:
In addition to meeting with people, I intend to leverage social media and my blog/website to provide summaries that will help reinforce the challenges and opportunities referenced in this paper.