Its Official: I’m Running by Robert Socha

Our mayor resigned through several events, necessitating a special election to fill the void for the remainder of the term. After much thought, prayer, consideration, and discussion with my wife, I have put my hat in the ring and am running to fill the vacancy. I’m running for mayor! Writing down my thoughts is prudent, and publishing them to a candid world is proper.

My family adopted Hillsdale, Michigan, in 2013, by moving here from Texas for our children’s education. I immediately got involved in a partnership with a local restaurant and shockingly learned that I prefer a small town, having grown up in the suburbs of Los Angeles. It only took 41 years to figure that out. Unfortunately, the restaurant failed, but the time there introduced me to a passionate city whose beautiful people love their community and are poised to see it flourish and prosper. I was hooked.

Serving my second term on the city council, I learned that small-town politics has a unique flair and accountability. Oftentimes, people come across as sharp and abrasive when handling local matters, both addressing the council and among the council itself. Sometimes this leads to fomenting and contentious debate, a necessary, if not awkward, component of effective government. I will be a level head who doesn’t lament past failures and manufactured malfeasance, but leads the city through this struggle, helps heal fissures that have formed over time, and moves Hillsdale forward, encouraging growth

The key issues facing the city that require constant attention and thought are the roads, public safety, and city staffing. I am committed to all three and will work diligently to continue the road repair and resurfacing while ensuring our trails are safe to walk and ride on and our parks offer a respite from the daily grind. Most importantly, I will continue to search for a way to fund city services, maintaining their effectiveness, while easing the property tax burden. I thank the city staff for their hard work and dedication and will maintain fiscal and physical accountability.

I want the people to know that I listen to you and am willing to change my mind, even on important matters, when I have a deeper understanding or receive fuller information. Being a passionate disciple of Christ, I will lead with integrity and vote my conscience when representing you, especially in that hallowed chamber.

During one of my first meetings after joining the local Rotary Club in 2013, I suggested that the City of Hillsdale was on the cusp of a renaissance. I believe it is even more possible now since we have so much to offer and look forward to, with magnificent parks and lakes, the strong relationship with Hillsdale College, the established local rural hospital, the growing industry, and the promise of new hotels, shops, and restaurants complementing those already serving our stunning city. We are a hidden gem! I ask us as a community to get excited about the future and work hard toward its accomplishment, and I invite the world to see. If you live in the city, I ask for your vote. It’s the people!