so who is this justin guy anyway?

I've lived in Guthrie, Oklahoma with my wife, Amanda, for about four years, and we have a 3-year-old son named Eli who amazes us everyday.

After Amanda and I had been married for a couple years, we decided to buy a house, and we fell in love with the charm, people, architecture, pace, coffee selection, and history of Guthrie. This town has proven to be wonderful place to start a family, and in a very short time we've made friends that we'll cherish for the rest of our lives.

Shortly after moving here, I began working at the Logan County Health Department as a Public Information Officer. Most of my responsibilities center around health education activities, such as cpr classes, working with after school programs, or helping with tobacco prevention efforts.

Over the last few years I've been able to get involved in some really great organizations here in Guthrie. I'm President of the God's Food Bank Board of Directors, and I also serve on the Board of Directors for the Logan County Red Cross. Both of these organizations do so much for our community, and it's really been an honor to work with them.

I'm also co-chairing the planning committee for a pretty unique event that's coming to Guthrie next spring. The Guthrie Clearwater Tour is a bike ride that we're planning for this coming May that will help raise funds for the city's new water plant. I'm so excited about this ride! Hopefully it will become a yearly event bringing in people from all over the state and beyond.

My family and I love Guthrie. We love living here. We love riding our bikes to the coffee shop. We love going to church here. We love the people that we've met. In just a few years this place has felt more like home to me than any place I've lived in my life. And that's why I'm running for City Council, Ward 1. I want to do everything I can to nurture this place, to invest myself in it, to make sure that my son can grow up with such a pride of place that when people ask him where he's from, he'll barrel out his chest with the satisfaction of loving his hometown.

Oh, yeah. You're probably wondering what in the world I was thinking with the whole "elect the bike guy" slogan. Well, other than just being bored with the usual political clichés, I thought I'd go with something that would readily connect with who I am, plus give folks a pretty good picture of what I'm about. When you see me around town, I'm usually the guy on the bicycle.

I love riding that old bike. Whether I'm going to Homeland, to the library, Winans, or wherever, there's nothing better than hopping on a bicycle. It may not be the fastest way to get around, but you wouldn't believe how many things I notice by just slowing my life down a little bit. Like how this town really is beautiful in a ridiculous number of ways ... and how I want to do everything I can to make sure that generations to come really do feel that "pride of place" that I've grown to cherish.

Oh, it's on now!!!!!

It's official, ladies and gents. I filed to run for Guthrie City Council, Ward 1 at lunchtime today. Good heavens, what have I gotten myself into!?

To my surprise, as I was walking out of the election board, I was informed that my friend John Wood is running for the same spot! I should really keep up with what my friends are doing.

Anyway, leading up to the election on February 10, 2009, I'll be using this blog to wax eloquent about the virtues of civic pursuits ... actually I'm not sure what I'm going to use it for, but we'll figure it out along the way.

Questions are absolutely welcome here ... I may not know the answer, but hopefully we can at least have some interesting conversations.

Stay warm. Be well.

Justin