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Health & Fitness

My Top Seven

On July 11, I picked up my Candidate Packet for the 2011 Gaithersburg City Council election.

On July 11, I picked up the Candidate Packet for the 2011 Gaithersburg City Council election.  Included in the packet is a petition which must be signed by 100 registered city voters for a candidate to be included on the ballot.  Each candidate can collect their signatures in any way they want.  I decided to make this gathering of 100 signatures a fun and deeply personal journey through Gaithersburg’s living history.

The first signatures I got are from two people who have had a direct impact on me and multiple generations of children in Gaithersburg.  I consider this great couple to be the King and Queen of Gaithersburg--legendary football coach John Harvill and his beautiful wife of 65 years, Elizabeth. Coach was a Government teacher and excelled as a football coach for a whole generation of students at Gaithersburg High School.  Mrs. Harvill, a retired business woman, was instrumental in the Gaithersburg Chamber of Commerce.  My parents and the Harvills were friends long before I was born.  In fact, Coach was a life guard on the same team as my parents when my parents met.  The Harvills have always encouraged me to run for office and they have inspired me to run again.

Signer #3 is my gorgeous wife, Kim. (I wanted to put “long-suffering here” but then you may think she is ill, and she’s not.  She is just suffering me.)  She is my better half, my trusted advisor and by far the best thing that has ever happened to me. Real love stories have no ending.

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Councilman Henry Marraffa and his dynamic wife, Donna are my 4th and 5th signers. Henry has been a mentor to me over the last few years and his advice is always welcomed. The old adage that behind every great man there is a fantastic woman is true, Donna is that and more.  She has tirelessly supported Henry for more than 20 years of service to this city.  Couples like the Marraffas are what make Gaithersburg great.

My friends Gail and Chris Norris completed the 1st page. Gail is an avid Ravens fan while Chris is a die-hard Steelers fan--talk about a mixed marriage. We have been friends for over ten years.  During that time, I have watched them both be extremely involved in our neighborhood and the Gaithersburg community.  They are signatures #6 and #7.

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As I work my way towards 100 signatures and a place on the ballot in the 2011 Gaithersburg City election, I will use this experience in living history to listen to the people of Gaithersburg and understand what they think are the pressing issues.  From this, I will expand and shape my platform for the 2011 election and beyond. 

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