Prepared to serve Folsom: My journey toward public service

Running for local office should not be a sudden decision. It should come from preparation, service, listening, learning and a commitment to the community one hopes to represent. For me, this journey has been more than 15 years in the making. While building a professional career of more than 35 years across the private sector, public sector, startups and large organizations, I have also spent my personal time serving the community and preparing for public service. Outside of my professional responsibilities, I have served in leadership roles in community organizations, government advisory boards, professional associations and civic groups. I have also invested time in mentoring, volunteering and leadership training. That distinction matters. My preparation to serve Folsom has not happened instead of my career. It has happened alongside it. Professionally, I have been a business leader, corporate executive, entrepreneur, engineer, mentor and public-sector manager. I have led teams, managed projects and budgets, supported critical infrastructure, negotiated with vendors and solved difficult problems. These experiences taught me that leadership requires preparation, accountability, discipline and long-term thinking. I am also an immigrant who came to this country and built my life from scratch. Like many immigrant families, I learned hard work, resilience, responsibility, gratitude and service. When I came to the United States, I never imagined that one day I would have the opportunity to run for public office. That possibility is part of the promise of this country, and it is a promise worth protecting. Our city is facing important challenges. Fiscal sustainability, public safety, traffic, growth, infrastructure, parks, trails, city services and community trust affect families, seniors, small businesses, commuters, students and every neighborhood in Folsom. Folsom needs leaders who are ready to ask informed questions, understand complex issues, listen to residents and make responsible decisions. My background has prepared me to do that. As an entrepreneur, I learned how to build from the ground up, manage risk, stretch limited resources, serve customers, solve problems and deliver results. Entrepreneurship teaches humility and accountability because every decision has consequences and promises must be backed by action. Beyond my professional work, community service has been central to my preparation. I have worked with volunteers, organized events, mentored emerging leaders and helped bring people together across backgrounds, generations and viewpoints. These experiences taught me leadership is about listening, building trust, respecting different perspectives and helping people work toward a shared goal. I have also served on government and advisory boards, where I gained a deeper understanding of how public institutions work. I learned the importance of public meetings, staff reports, budgets, community input, transparency and accountability. These roles taught me residents deserve leaders who come prepared, ask thoughtful questions, listen carefully and make decisions based on facts, values and the long-term interest of the community. Over the years, I have completed civic and political training programs through five community-focused organizations. These programs strengthened my understanding of public policy, coalition building, communications, ethics, voter outreach and community engagement. I sought these trainings because good intentions are not enough. Public service requires knowledge, discipline, humility, preparation and respect for the trust residents place in those who represent them. My civic engagement has shaped my perspective. I have attended public meetings, organized volunteers, supported community causes, participated in local events and listened to residents from different walks of life. Through these conversations, I have heard what people care about most: safe neighborhoods, responsible budgeting, traffic solutions, strong city services, well-maintained parks and trails, thriving local businesses and a City Hall that listens. My leadership style is shaped by emotional intelligence. For more than a decade, I have coached and mentored people to grow as leaders and communicators. I believe people want to feel heard, respected, valued and included. Cities are people, not just budgets, buildings and policies. I am not running for Folsom City Council as a career politician. I am running as a husband, father, immigrant, engineer, entrepreneur, mentor, volunteer and neighbor. I am running because I love Folsom and believe our city's best days are ahead of us, but only if we plan responsibly, listen sincerely and lead with courage. If elected, I will bring more than 35 years of professional experience and more than 15 years of intentional community and civic service to City Hall. I will do my homework. I will ask tough questions. I will listen before making decisions. I will work to strengthen fiscal responsibility, public safety, economic development, parks, trails, infrastructure and trust in local government. Most of all, I will work to make sure every Folsom resident feels safe, valued, included and heard. My journey has prepared me to serve. Now, I am ready to bring experience, humility, vision and heart to the Folsom City Council.