Suzan Kesim
Community Advocate & Candidate for South Bend Common Council At-Large
"Budget Enthusiast"
(A name given to me by the City Controller since I regularly attend the Council Meetings and 14 Budget Hearings) |
I've been at the County-City Building so much some of the security staff thought I worked there. I've been attending the Council meetings for over three years now and I'm known as one of the "Budget Enthusiasts" since I actively participated in the 14 Budget Hearings the City held in 2018 and many the year before.
As a Citizen Advocate I go to these meetings having...
Unfortunately they only allow 3 to 5 minutes for input at the meetings, so I feel I'm not as effective as I could be. Finally I decided it wasn't enough to sit in the audience. It's time for me to step up and have a "seat at the table" so I can vote and see the changes I think are necessary to get South Bend back to the "necessities" instead of the "wants" that are draining the budget and running up debt. My promise to you is to work on making sure our tax dollars are spent wisely and to the benefit of the WHOLE community. This is why I need YOUR VOTE in the May 7th Democratic Primary! Professionally I'm a Corporate Trainer, Analyst and IT Professional. Translated that means I like making information easier to understand and enjoy the details of data. As an Analyst, I look at where things could be made better and implement them as a Project Manager.
What this means for you as your Council Representative is I am willing to scrutinize the numbers and suggest improvements. The trainer and advocate in me wants you to understand it as well, which is why I've created some basic explanations to get you started. I am running because I care about this community. I will work for you as I have in the past as a local Advocate.
My community service and advocacy has included: ~ Serving as an in-home Center for Hospice Volunteer for 10 years ~ Coordinating educational programs for Seniors for 7 years ~ Assisting the efforts of Unity Gardens for 9 years ~ Junior Achievement Classroom Instructor ~ Founding Michiana Fast Forward to bring the Maker Faire to South Bend ~ Promoting a “Chip and Tag” program for animals with Fab4Dogs ~ Junior League Internal Volunteer of the Year Award ~ PSA ~ Public Service Announcements to keep Citizens informed ~ Creating “Write My Law” to assist advocates with the ordinance writing process ~ Many Random Acts of Kindness Your voice is important and I will continue to encourage everyone be heard. Thank you for supporting my efforts to make our community and City Government better for all of us. I grew up in Elkhart and I've lived in South Bend over 25 years. I know the area and I know the challenges. I have ideas on how it can be better. My focus is infrastructure. We need to make sure the basics are taken care of FIRST. Those things aren't glamorous for ribbon cuttings. For me there are FOUR CORE BASICS: Water, Sewers, Roads and Public Safety.
South Bend needs to do those better now and in the future. Infrastructure and neighborhoods have been underfunded for too long. I am invested in seeing South Bend succeed—for EVERYONE. It is my goal as an Advocate to involve YOU in the process. If these are your priorities, I need your VOTE and Donations! My campaign is a grassroots one. Donations are appreciated and helpful. Pie Pick-up is on March 22 from 4 - 8 pm
Thanks for all of you who pre-ordered! If you didn't order, you are still welcome to stop by and say hello and enjoy the South Bend Firefighters Grill #362 and enter for some door prizes. There may be some pieces of pie available, but whole pies were pre-order only. Pick-up is at:
South Bend Firefighter Association Hall, 4025 Lincolnway West, South Bend, IN 46628 NOTE: My donation app is by ActBlue. Your receipts will come from them.
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