Thursday, May 06, 2010
Teton Valley News
When training as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Dominican Republic, I thought there was no way I would extend my two year service commitment. But as I neared the end of my two years and others were heading to the United States, I knew I had to extend. I hadn’t fulfilled my work in the community of Esperanza where we were finishing a community clean up project and an education program. It wasn’t an easy decision. I knew the work ahead of me was going to be tough and that my family was anxious for my return, but I also knew I couldn’t leave with my work unfulfilled.
This spring I found myself in the same situation – whether or not to run for another term as county commissioner. My husband and I have two small children and two businesses to run. However, considering the future of our community – our two boys and businesses included – the decision was easy; I knew I had to run.
I’m incredibly inspired by our community’s potential. The dramatic and unprecedented economic downturn in Teton Valley is a grueling hardship, but I also see it as an opportunity. An opportunity to plan a future of economic growth and diversity, with sustainable environmental policies and community planning guidelines that will maintain our high quality of life – a quality of life that keeps families in Teton Valley for generations and attracts new residents. I see a chance to make our families the core drivers of community and business.
In the next four years we need to focus on long-term planning, starting with our comprehensive plan to set out land use policies and guidelines, a new transportation plan with choices that meet the needs of all our residents and a plan for our economic growth that focuses us toward an economy that is stable and healthy. We need to focus on job creation and sustainability. We need to have clear goals, policies and implementation strategies that enable us to measure our progress while allowing us to readjust when conditions change, staying within the community’s vision.
This is what being a county commissioner is about for me: thoughtfully planning our community’s future and having the courage to make the tough decisions to move from plan to reality. I look forward to that challenge and am committed to Teton Valley’s future.
Kathy Rinaldi is a first term Teton County Commissioner and can be reached at krinaldi@co.teton.id.us
