Over the last six years as your Thornton City Councilmember I've had the opportunity to reflect on Thornton and the needs of the community. One thing I know for sure: as I ask for your vote as your next mayor you deserve to know what my aspirations for the city are, and I'm going to spend the next few months during this election outlining them in a complete blueprint for Thornton.

The theme of our campaign is "Building Thornton Together," and to me that means we are all working for a common goal, to have a great city we can all be proud of. My wife and two children have chosen our wonderful community as our home, and I'm proud to tell people what a great well-kept secret Thornton is.

Just as I am proud of our city today, I am also proud of the town where I grew up, a small farming community, Elk Horn, Iowa. As I remember back to my childhood, values were important. My parents made sure that hard work, family, and community were embedded in my character, and I'm sure you share the same values.

There are a few things that still stick strongly with me today. I believe that our personal freedoms are the most important things we have as Americans, and no government should get in the way unless there's a really darn good reason.

I also believe that people are the strength of our national and local character, and government should serve them with efficiency and remember that government serves with the consent of the governed. That means your opinion is the most important one to me, not the special interests.

My children and family are the center of my life, and I will do everything in my power to make sure that they receive the best education and safest neighborhoods we can get. Your children deserve nothing less, and together we can make that dream a reality.

I want to thank everyone who has urged me to run and be your next mayor, and I relish the opportunity to meet many of you over the next few months as I ask for your vote. Please do not hesitate to visit my website at www.hansenforthornton.com for more information about our campaign and updates on how the campaign is progressing.