In November the residents of Bowling Green’s Third Ward will elect a new City Council representative for the first time since 2009. I have been honored to have served these residents on Council for the last 10 years. I am excited that Rachel Phipps has chosen to seek this important position and am pleased to offer my strong endorsement of her candidacy. I believe that Rachel is running for City Council for all of the right reasons, she sees the potential for great growth in our community and feels a need to contribute in a positive and meaningful way.
Rachel clearly possess the energy, skills, and life experiences that assure her success upon election. Rachel is committed to the betterment of the greater Bowling Green community. She and her husband Ryan are the parents of two young children and they are both committed to public service in an effort to help improve our community, Ryan through his work in a local family dentistry practice and Rachel in her effort to serve her neighbors as a representative on City Council.
I have no doubt that if elected, Rachel will commit herself to understanding the important issues facing the City. She will actively seek out new ideas and creative solutions that will contribute to community improvements. I have heard Rachel speak of the opportunities for community improvement that have been identified in recent strategic studies, specifically, redevelopment opportunities along the East Wooster street corridor.
It is clear that she understands the potential impact these projects can have on efforts to help Bowling Green grow and diversify the business community, expand the tax base, and help attract young professionals and families to our community. Rachel’s experience as a tax attorney and her experience as an environmental attorney in the Ohio Attorney General’s office will serve the residents of Bowling Green well.
Rachel is positioned to understand quickly the complex financial issues involved in City budgeting, and equally important, has an understanding of, and commitment to, sustainable energy policy. It is not often that a community has an opportunity to elect someone as qualified and committed to public service as is Rachel Phipps. I hope you will join with me in supporting her candidacy and vote for her on Nov. 5.
Mike Aspacher
Bowling Green
