Why We Chose to Run Together

One question we've heard from friends and neighbors is: "Why form a slate at all? Isn't City Council supposed to be made up of independent representatives rather than political teams?"

It's a fair question. Both of us wrestled with it before deciding to campaign together.

The short answer is this: we don't believe Rivergrove should be governed by factions, but we do believe voters deserve a clear choice when organized political movements emerge.

Our Preference: Independent Councilors

If we could design local politics from scratch, every candidate would run on their own record, qualifications, and ideas. Rivergrove is small. We don't need partisan politics or political machines—we need thoughtful people willing to listen and make decisions based on what's best for the entire city.

That's still what we believe.

If elected, neither of us will be anyone's rubber stamp. We won't vote a certain way because a supporter, neighbor, or fellow candidate expects us to. Our responsibility would be to all Rivergrove residents, and independent judgment is one of the most important qualities a councilor can possess.

The Reality We Faced

At the same time, it would be dishonest to pretend that organized political activity isn't already occurring. The Concerned Citizens of Rivergrove actively promotes three candidates, while Leah Silber's website lays out a consistent set of criticisms of the city's current direction.

A coordinated effort already existed to influence Rivergrove's future. We felt voters deserved to know there was another group of candidates who shared a different vision for how the city should move forward.

Why We Created a Joint Campaign

Neither of us set out looking to create a slate. We did so because Rivergrove residents deserve a balanced conversation about their city's future.

Many residents want a government focused on solving problems pragmatically, maintaining public assets, improving operations, preserving community character, and making decisions that reflect the interests of the entire community, not any single neighborhood or issue.

Those residents deserve a voice. Running together allows us to communicate clearly that there's an alternative vision for Rivergrove: one focused on constructive problem-solving, respectful dialogue, and moving the city forward.

What This Doesn't Mean

A shared website should not be interpreted as a promise that we agree on every issue. Reasonable people can share broad goals while having different perspectives on specific policies and priorities. In fact, healthy government requires those differences.

If elected, each of us will cast our own vote and answer directly to the residents who elected us.

Judge Us on Our Merits

We don't expect anyone to support us simply because our names appear together. We hope residents will evaluate each of us individually, based on our qualifications, judgment, character, and commitment to Rivergrove.

The choice to campaign together wasn't about creating factions or demanding ideological loyalty. It was about ensuring voters have a meaningful choice about their city's future.

That's what local democracy is supposed to provide.

Curt Taylor and Brett Egusa, Candidates for Rivergrove City Council