11/05/2026
Over the last several months, I have had countless conversations with people who have told me the same things.
“I don’t vote because my voice doesn’t matter.”
“I don’t speak up because nobody listens anyway.”
“I’m afraid to put my name out there because of what people might do to me.”
“I’m afraid of retaliation. I’m afraid of becoming a target. I’m afraid that speaking up will make my life harder.”
And I understand that fear. I understand the exhaustion that comes with feeling like you’re shouting into a void while the people making decisions about your life aren’t listening.
But I hope the results of this election have taught us something.
Our voices do matter. And the power of people is greater than the people in power.
Look at what is happening around us. The margins are shifting. In some races, the gaps are getting smaller. The goalposts are moving. People are asking questions, demanding accountability, and making it clear that they want to have a say in the communities they call home.
Look at District 15. Look at what happened in Piqua, where voters recalled three city commissioners following the controversy surrounding the proposed data center and also voted to prohibit its construction. These results are a reminder that citizens want a meaningful voice in decisions that affect their communities. They want to be heard before decisions are made, not after.
I think we can agree on at least one thing, regardless of which side of the aisle we stand on: our communities need less division and more humanity. I believe we have spent far too long allowing hatred, bigotry, and elitism to dominate conversations that should be about the people we serve.
And this is where I want us to turn our attention.
What does the future of Miami County look like?
Next year, the City of Troy will have a mayoral vacancy as our current mayor prepares to retire. That means an opportunity to bring a new face and a new perspective into city leadership.
As Troy grows, as our population becomes more diverse, and as our community continues to change, our representation should reflect the people who actually live here.
I want to see people from all walks of life consider running for office. If you have ever thought about running for mayor, serving on City Council, or taking on another local leadership role, perhaps this is the time to seriously consider it.
You don’t have to be a career politician. You don’t have to have all the answers. You do need to care about your neighbors, be willing to listen, and understand that public service is about serving the public.
And to those of you who are afraid to speak up, I want you to know something:
You are not alone. There are other people who feel the same way you do. There are people who want kindness, inclusion, transparency, accountability, and a community where everyone has a seat at the table.
But we cannot build that community by remaining silent.
We cannot expect change if we aren’t willing to participate in it. And we cannot keep allowing fear to determine who gets to have a voice in our future.
This election isn’t the finish line. It’s a reminder that the work is far from over.
Keep showing up. Keep asking questions. Keep attending meetings. Keep talking to your neighbors. Keep holding your elected officials accountable. And most importantly, keep making room for people who have historically been left out of the conversation.
The kindness revolution is just beginning.
It doesn’t belong to one political party, one neighborhood, or one group of people. It belongs to all of us willing to believe that our community can be better.
We don’t need more people interested in having power over others. We need more people willing to use their voices to empower others.
Miami County, your voice matters. Your neighbors’ voices matter. And our future is something we should all have a hand in shaping.
The power of people will always be greater than the people in power.
Let’s keep moving.
