When I hear David Wiechman's supporters go on about how he
is the best qualified person to ever run for Lakewood city
council, I concur but not necessarily in the same way. I
agree his college education, tour of duty as a military
officer, 25 years as an economist and decades of service
to the Lakewood community are all important. However, as
a mother and grandmother, the qualifications that matter
most to me is his track record as a citizen and father.

Because family is important to me, I want my council
representative to know from personal experience what it's
like to raise a family in today's world. This is not
something that can be studied in school, read in a book or
observed from others. It's something you have to actually
do in order to fully understand.

At the outset let me clarify Dave refuses to use "family
values" as a platform. He has seen it used too many times
for political purposes and finds it all a bit hypocritical.

Dave has worked for a living for 30 years and has spent
almost two decades raising his two lovely daughters.
Michele (18) is going to college while working part-time
at a local engineering firm. She was Green Mountain Key
Club President and Chair of the City of Lakewood's Youth
Commission. Her sister Rachel is following in her tracks
with Key Club and Youth Commission as well as playing on
the GMHS softball team.

Dave was an involved parent, taking off work to accompany
class field trips, attending school parties and plays,
helping with homework and chaperoning trips abroad. He
took leadership roles in the school, serving as a PTA
officer, accountability committee chair (both at the
school level and the Green Mountain Articulation Area),
headed up the high school's community collaboration group
and is currently on the school district's Strategic
Planning and Advisory Council.

While I appreciate Dave's knowledge of the community and
proven leadership; the important thing to me is he knows
from personal experience what it is like to raise a
family. I know he can represent the families of Ward 4.