The City Council results are in.  I won with 784 of the votes cast and Jeff Jeffers came in second with 744 votes.  Kevin MacWithey came in third with 653 votes and Randy Thompson received 508 votes. 

I want to thank the other candidates for their participation in this election.  Without them, there wouldn’t have been an election and with no election, there wouldn’t have been the dialogue voters got to become educated on some of the issues facing our City. 

I’m grateful to Kevin for his service to the City these last 4 years.  He’s served with distinction and Fredericksburg’s a better place because of his service.  I’m also looking forward to working more with Randy in the coming months.  In particular, his perspective and energy on the affordable housing issue is something I hope to see his participation on. 

In closing this post, I want to thank my supporters and the voters of Fredericksburg for their confidence in me.  We have so much to be grateful for and there’s still so much we can do.  I’ll look forward to hearing from you and will depend on your involvement to continue Fredericksburg’s prosperity.  Thank you.

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Today is election day in Fredericksburg…time to get out the vote!  Voters will be choosing their City Councilmen and School Board Members.  They’ll also be voting on the proposed tax exemption for Citizens over 65 and an FISD capital improvement bond.  Truly we are blessed people to live in a country of free elections and the uninhibited right to choose our leaders.  Enjoy your day and GET OUT TO VOTE!

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If you are in business of any kind, work for a cause of any sort or are involved (at anytime) with promoting something for business or charity, you need to know about Seth’s Blog:

http://sethgodin.typepad.com/

I first came across Seth when I read his book, Permission Marketing. If you email groups for anything in business, charity or personal reasons, this book is a must read. Anyhow, I read his post today Titled:

Marketing the charity auction

and was floored by the common sense of it. I’m associated with organizations that put on annual fundraising events and I attend many events as a patron. That said, I’ve always been intrigued by the psychology at work with patrons bidding on items. Seth’s observations make, what for me were implicit observations, explicit common sense.

If you are affiliated with a charitable cause that has an auction in the works for its next fundraiser, print out a copy of today’s Seth’s Blog entry for them…they’ll appreciate that you did.

Posted in: Community, Marketing | Comments(0)

This was a big week for the City Council: noise ordinance, C.A.R.E.S. research results presentation, flood plain discussion, sign ordinance. Yesterday we got our newspaper and I was reading the recap of the Council meeting when I came across a quote I’d remembered hearing there. Toward the end of the discussion regarding the sound ordinance, a man stood up and commented on how sad it was that we had to “legislate common courtesy.”

How true that is.

We’ve been debating things a lot lately. The City decided to adopt a formula business ordinance, then this week’s decision on the noise ordinance and this weekend the voters will decide on the much debated tax cut and bond issue. There has been passionate discussion on all sides of these issues. Friends and family members have had tough discussions with each other about what they believe is the right decision.This morning I ran into Ken Knopp. Anyone who knows Ken knows that he is a resident expert on Fredericksburg’s history. I shared my concern with him about the disagreement and perceived unrest in the community. He related to me a story of one of our past mayors from 40 or so years ago by the name of Henke. Mayor Henke had a vision for a park on the edge of town with a pavillion for community and citizen events. It was hotly debated, but in the end the City voted for spending $50,000 to purchase the land and build the building. The opposition to this decision was so strong that the voters removed the Mayor at the next election.

That park’s name ultimately changed to Lady Bird Johnson Park.

The point of his story was this: Nothing we cherish in this town came without debate and disagreement. There has always been passion on all sides of these issues. His point was that leaders “have got to stick to their guns” and do what’s right for Fredericksburg. Wise words…thank you, Ken.

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This past Friday, NBC Nightly News aired it’s piece on the Rockets ‘08 event. They also did a great interview with Brett Williams and a profile on the Principals of Technology program at Fredericksburg High School.

Main Story with Brian Williams (click here)

Additional Footage (click here)

I thought the blog was interesting. It gives some of the same information, but it talks more about the spreading of the curriculum into other schools. Something that surprised me in the blog, was the comments made. Most were appreciative of the positive impact being made on education in our country through this program. However, some made other, more negative comments (click here). I suppose that just comes with the territory. When you decide to take initiative, be ready for those that will come out in support of your plans, but also be ready for those that would come out in opposition.

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Our local paper asked all the Candidates to submit profile pieces for last week’s paper.  We were asked to keep it to 300 words or less…and they meant it (I initially got mine returned for fudging the limit).  Here’s mine, but make sure you also read the others since it’s good to get everyone’s perspective.

My name is David Pedregon and I’m running for City Council.  My education began here with St. Mary’s and FHS followed by a degree from Texas Tech.  I began working at age 9, waiting on customers at The Peach Tree, our Family’s business of 36 years.  Ultimately, I went away to Boston to work in the investment business, further my education at Harvard and consult in the technology industry.  When our Family moved back to Fredericksburg in 2001, I immediately got involved with the Community because I believe our success as a City is an inheritance to be cherished…not an entitlement to be taken for granted.  We are the beneficiaries in this great Community of ours and my service today is an expression of my gratitude. 

Experience is an essential ingredient Citizens should consider when selecting their leaders.  Over the past 7 years, I’ve served on the Planning & Zoning Commission (Vice Chairman), Convention & Visitor’s Bureau (Chairman), Economic Development Commission Board, Ignite Education Board, Hill Country Evangelical Free Church Deacon Board, Ambleside School Board (Chairman) and Texas Retailer’s Association Board (Executive Committee). 

Our Community is facing many issues such as a lack of affordable housing for low and middle income earners, a workforce to feed into and sustain our local industries and higher wages to retain our skilled workers.  While nothing is ever certain, I believe the only true constant is change.  Change brings potential for good and change brings challenges.  Facing those challenges and decisions requires strong, thoughtful and experienced leadership.  The potential to lead is not the same as leading and your elected leaders must be able to hit the ground running on day one.  If you elect me to City Council, I’ll commit to working hard to keep Fredericksburg strong and prosperous into the future.

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