Dec 3, 2014 – Tonight, I sat in the audience at a Laguna Niguel City Council meeting for the first time in 8 years. The new council will do a great job. I pray they will serve with wisdom and humility.
For those of you not able to attend, here is what I said…or meant to say… as my closing remarks.
“Family, Friends, colleagues, residents of Laguna Niguel, thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve you these past eight years. That’s what elected office is. Service. It’s not a chance to make yourself feel important, or to puff up your resume, or to take credit for things you did, or maybe even things you didn’t do. It is a chance to serve.
I hope my service made your lives better, because that’s what I was trying to do. On the big things, I told you exactly what I was going to do when I ran the first time, and then I did them. On the thousands and thousands of little things, I just kept asking myself, what would you do if you were sitting in this chair?
I don’t have the right to ask anything of you, but I will anyway. First, from the residents, please stay involved. Volunteer your time. Be a soccer coach, shop local, join the Lions, Rotary or the Chamber. Your sacrifices give this place a hometown community spirit that must be preserved.
To my future city council. You are all incredibly smart people. I know you will do your homework. I know you will read the thousands of pages Rod will send home in your packets on Friday. I know you will ask good questions. What I ask you to do is listen to each other. Remember, sometimes the right answer isn’t the one you walked in the door with. Remember that wisdom isn’t just saying the right thing at the right time, but leaving unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment. You will do well. I know it. I’m counting on you.
To my wife Susie, and my 4 wonderful children, Jonathan, Katie, Wesley and Grant. Thank you for all the time you’ve let Daddy spend helping other people. To my Mom and Dad and all my friends and supporters, thank you for your loyalty, support and commitment. I don’t know what the future holds, but I know that when it becomes clear, I will be happy to serve again.
Most of all, I thank God for my very life in this spectacular place, and for the peace that passes all understanding. God bless you all.”