​A is for Active Listeners

Effective leaders need to be active listeners. What does that mean? Active Listening means instead of sharing your views or ideas, you FIRST consider what the person or people you are having dialogue with say. Active Listening requires using critical thinking skills to reflect on another’s views and use that reflection process before responding and making decisions.

Leaders who are active listeners are adaptable because they can admit that they don’t know everything. Active Listeners can swallow their ego in an effort to encourage others to be involved and engaged. Active Listeners are OK with the idea that they don’t know everything.

The current system in Garwood for residents to be involved in open discussions with town council members is non-existent. If you have questions for the council, they encourage you to attend town council meetings. During the meeting they announce various things, they engage with each other, they make decisions among themselves from the dais.

What if a town resident and tax payer would like to be involved in a discussion?

In the current structure of town council meetings, the resident is not permitted to speak until the “public comment” time during the meeting. The resident is given 5 minutes to speak. During that 5 minutes, the town council refuses to answer questions or engage in dialogue. The current mayor informs the resident that she will respond once everyone in the audience has had a turn to speak during the public comments. If the mayor won’t respond until after the public comments, how can there be dialogue?

I sat at a meeting and watched as the mayor responded to only what she wanted to. She didn’t answer half of the questions several of the residents had asked, nor did she allow a “discussion”. The current system does NOT allow for open discussion and dialogue.

Kim Salmon and her running mates Stephen and Brenda believe in open discussion and dialogue. Kim Salmon and her team plan on restructuring the system to encourage engagement between elected officials and residents…allowing a dialogue designed to listen, consider and discuss residents questions and concerns.

Once Kim Salmon is elected Mayor, her council with provide a structure for town council meetings where ALL residents deserve to have a dialogue with the members of town council, even ones she doesn’t always agree with.

Kim Salmon is open to hearing from residents. Kim listens, takes into consideration what residents say and responds appropriately. Kim is methodical, and considers finances when solving problems. I have watched as Kim encouraged residents to question her stances and decisions, challenge her on ideas, express concerns and request for understanding.

Kim Salmon is professional, respectful and open.

As an active listener and a person who is adaptable, I have seen Kim switch her stance on various topics. Kim Salmon is a business woman and thinks very analytically.

VOTE for Kim Salmon for Mayor