From: Jeff Jones
Columbus
My name is Jeff Jones, and I am writing this letter in support of Mary Ferdon, candidate for mayor, based on my experience during 2017-2019 as the executive director of the Alliance for Substance Abuse Progress. Mary was deeply involved in this critical initiative and her strong leadership was extremely valuable in establishing ASAP and the community’s substance abuse prevention and recovery system.
From the beginning, Mary ensured that all city and county leaders understood the overall impact of this crisis, both in terms of the cost to the community and devastation to our families and neighbors. She understood the complexity of the problem and recognized that the entire community needed to work together, including the city of Columbus, Bartholomew County, the health system, school system, law enforcement, court system, social service agencies, churches and countless other organizations.
At the same time, Mary was keenly aware of the impact of substance abuse on individuals and their families and was relentless in her efforts to help us implement practical solutions that make a difference in people’s lives. Throughout the early days of the ASAP initiative, I appreciated Mary’s empathy for the many who suffer from this terrible disease and her commitment to finding the best possible solutions, no matter how difficult.
Mary’s knowledge and experience proved invaluable when it came to establishing the ASAP organization structure and the relationship with the city of Columbus and Bartholomew County. Mary kept us focused on implementing a results-oriented culture based on transparency and accountability and she has continued to provide guidance to the current ASAP organization as it improves the capabilities of the community’s prevention and recovery system. Other counties have studied ASAP and are considering our prevention and recovery system as a potential model for their own communities.
Mary has consistently demonstrated the vision, leadership, work ethic, and integrity that I believe will help Columbus grow and continue to be a great place to live and work. Her proven ability to form partnerships and her commitment to get projects across the goal line will be great assets in the mayor’s office.
Please join me in supporting Mary Ferdon as our next mayor by voting for her in the primary this spring and in the general election this fall.
This letter is paid political content. Political endorsement letters during campaign seasons are published with a $25 fee. They may be submitted to [email protected].
