Letter to District 4 Residents
Dear Friends & Neighbors,
It is with great anticipation that I officially announce my candidacy to become our next Orange County Commissioner for District 4 in 2010.
I am a lifelong Orange County resident. I attended and graduated from University High School during the very first years it was open. Since graduating from college and moving back to Central Florida, my husband and I have lived throughout many District 4 communities including Conway, Cypress Springs and currently, Avalon Park. My mother has a home near UCF and a small family diner on Narcoossee Road where she spends most of her time.
My involvement in our community is vast. My husband, David, and I own our own business and publish a small community magazine. For the past three years, I have hosted a weekly small business networking workshop aiding small business owners in creating lasting business relationships throughout Southeast Orlando. Literally over 2,000 business professionals have attended our ‘Coffee Club’ over the years. We specifically chose a business that would keep us active in our community and allow us to keep our fingers on the pulse of what is going on.
From my business to my volunteer roles, I take seriously my commitment to our community and its future needs. I helped to start the East Orlando Relay for Life at Timber Creek High School nearly ten years ago and currently serve on the boards at Florida Hospital East Orlando, the Child Rescue Network and Florida Executive Women, among others. This year I am serving as the Chair for both the Lake Nona Relay for Life and Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk in October. I have also been given the opportunity to promote the American Cancer Society at various community events and look forward to the day when we no longer need volunteers to spread the word because we’ve gotten rid of this terrible disease.
For my commitment to small business and my leadership with the 2003 East Orlando visioning study, the Orlando Business Journal recognized me as their 2005 Businesswoman of the Year under the age of 40. Although it was several years ago, I still remember the message of the day clearly –“it’s not about what you have done, it’s about what you are going to do.” I take those words to heart. In late July 2008, I was approached by a friend and business colleague about training for and running the 2009 Disney Marathon as part of Team Burnham in an effort to raise money for needed research dollars. Having never run before and having just completed the 26.2 mile race this past January, I am amazed at the resilience of the human mind and body and again reminded of the importance of not only setting goals and working towards them, but more importantly, perseverance.
I plan to use the same focus and determination that I have used over the past decade to in serving my community in my efforts and activities related to my campaign to become our next District 4 Orange County Commissioner. My goal is to bring accessibility, transparency and leadership to the board of county commissioners and the residents of district 4. Expect to see a grass roots campaign aimed at getting people involved in the process. We all agree that these are challenging times and that never before has the need for change been so necessary and sought after. I believe that together we can make a difference in our community and that the change we seek begins locally. Between now and election day, I plan to sit down with thousands of families and Orange County residents and business owners to hear about the kind of change we are seeking and how together we might make a difference in the future of our community.
Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to earn your vote in 2010. If you have an issue that is important to you or if there is anything you would like discuss, please contact me directly at 321-228-9686.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Thompson
