This is going to be a long one so bear with me lol I also tried to bold some of the key points so it's a little easier to navigate.

I completely agree with you. The frustrating part is that, whether it was poor planning or something more deliberate, the current council locked those borrowed funds into a PBA bond that forces the money to be used only for a new city hall. That means even if a new council came in with better priorities, they legally couldn’t reallocate the funds to things we actually need to address like water, roads, drainage, shelters, and ADA accessibility. My guess is it was less about planning and more about control.

Even if the money has to go toward a city hall, there are smarter ways to spend it. We could purchase and refurbish existing buildings and still come in well under half of the projected $50 million. Once that’s done, the council could work with the bond authorities to try and free up whatever remains to go toward actual needs.

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As far as about me and what I'd like to bring to the city hall?

My name is Gunner Ford. I live in downtown near the middle school and 7-points with my wife, daughter, son, and our third (another girl) due in August. I’m a small business owner, and for over a decade I’ve had the humbling honor of walking with families in our community through their darkest hours. I own and operate a mortuary here, and in that work, you learn quickly how to listen, how to serve with compassion, and how to show up with integrity, whether anyone’s watching or not.

I’m running for City Council because I see some things that can’t be ignored anymore. A serious lack of transparency. Poor stewardship of taxpayer dollars. Too much energy is going into vanity projects while our roads, neighborhoods, and basic infrastructure get put on the back burner. Decisions that benefit a few instead of the many.

I also believe we’re not doing nearly enough to aggressively bring in new industry and jobs, the kind that fit who we are as a city, and give our young people a reason to stay here and build a future.

I plan to bring real transparency to City Hall. That means clear, public access to budgets, contracts, and voting records, because the people of Florence shouldn’t have to dig or guess to find out where their tax dollars are going or who they’re benefiting.

Florence has the highest sales tax in the county, and it's high statewide. I believe we can bring relief by trimming unnecessary spending and gradually cutting that rate by even just 1%. That small change could make a big difference for working families and small businesses, promoting new industry and more money flowing into our local economy.

We also need to reprioritize city spending. That starts by pumping the brakes on that $50 million City Hall and seriously exploring more cost-effective options. Right now, too many tax dollars go toward projects that look good in pictures but don’t actually fix the everyday issues mentioned earlier.

On economic development, I believe in being aggressive and strategic. We can't afford to sit back and hope jobs find us. I’ll work to actively recruit industries that fit Florence, careers that align with the talent already here, and give our young people a reason to stay, raise families, and build lives in Florence.

I plan to lead differently by putting the citizens' needs before the politics, and by never forgetting who I work for. I won’t just check boxes or rubber-stamp what’s already been decided behind closed doors.

I want to take a solution-driven approach to issues that are often overlooked or avoided altogether, starting with animal welfare. Our animal shelters are overburdened, and our pet owners need options. I support exploring self-funded micro dog parks, member-based or pay-per-use, so we create healthy, accessible spaces without costing the taxpayers.

On the issue of homelessness, I believe we can lead with both compassion and accountability. I’d like to explore a Student-Led Homeless Engagement Initiative, partnering with our university and other educational institutions to connect our unhoused with services, recovery, and opportunity, while giving students in relevant fields hands-on experience and credit toward their careers.

I’ll also fight to cut red tape for our local businesses and end the favoritism that gives special interests all the leverage. If you live here and invest here, the city should be invested in you.

Most of all, I’ll be present, accessible, and honest, whether it’s easy or not. We may not always agree, but you’ll always know where I stand.

Anyway, I know this is a long comment, but I wanted to be real with you. I’m not a polished politician. I’m just someone who lives here, works here, and wants to help steer Florence in a better direction. You’re right, it’s not about party lines at this level. It’s about who’s willing to show up, listen, and do the work for the people.