Tom Shadrach for District 1
To the editor:
Serving four years on the Cape Coral City Council changed the way I look at public service. When you sit behind that dais, you quickly realize that the numbers in a budget aren’t just numbers, the decisions that are made are not just a “yes” or “no” vote. Behind every choice are people. A family wondering how much more they can afford. A senior living on a fixed income. A small-business owner who took a chance on Cape Coral. A young couple trying to build a life here. A resident who gives up an evening to come to City Hall because they simply want someone to listen.
I remember those faces, I remember what it felt like knowing that every time I voted, someone on the other side of that decision was trusting us to get it right. That experience is why I take seriously the people who ask to sit in those seats today.
It’s also one of the reasons I personally support and ask that you join me in voting for Tom Shadrach for Cape Coral City Council, District 1.
Tom’s involvement in our city didn’t begin when he decided to put his name on a ballot. He showed up. He studied the budgets. He questioned the numbers. He served on the Budget Review Committee. And when he believed something deserved another look, he wasn’t afraid to say so. That matters to me.
One of the most important lessons I learned while serving on council is that a council member shouldn’t be there to make government comfortable. They should be there to make government accountable. That means asking questions when something doesn’t make sense. It means being willing to say, “Show me the numbers.” It means listening to the residents standing at the podium even when you disagree with them. And sometimes it means being willing to stand alone when you believe you’re doing what is right.
I don’t expect Tom to agree with me on everything. I wouldn’t want that. I don’t want eight people sitting on council who think exactly alike. I want people who think for themselves. People who listen. People who do their homework. People who aren’t afraid to ask one more question when everyone else is ready to move on. And people who never forget that behind every project, contract, consultant, study and spreadsheet are the people who ultimately make this city work. The residents.
It’s your city. Your neighborhood. Your money. And your government.
I know the responsibility that comes with that seat. I know the long meetings, the difficult decisions, the criticism and the pressure. But I also know what an incredible privilege it is to serve the people of Cape Coral.
Public service isn’t about being the loudest voice in the room. It isn’t about always being right. And it certainly isn’t about always being popular. It’s about showing up. Listening. Doing the work. Having the courage to ask difficult questions. And remembering who gave you the privilege of sitting there in the first place.
I’ve watched Tom Shadrach show those qualities long before this election. That’s something I respect. That is something that matters to me.
Cape Coral has changed since I had the privilege of serving on Council, and our city will continue to change. But as we grow, I hope we never lose one simple principle that shaped the way I approached public service. People deserve a government that sees them, hears them and remembers who they work for.
That was the standard I carried with me when I served. It’s the standard I still believe in today. And it’s a major reason why I personally support and will vote for Tom Shadrach. He will be exactly the kind of representative that will be for the people! I hope you too will join me in voting and seeing Tom on our city council.
Richard Leon
Cape Coral