Kate Jerman, candidate for Peninsula Township Trustee; Election 2024
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(Editor’s Note: Kate Jerman, candidate for Peninsula Township Trustee, offers her thoughts on what it takes to be a good leader. -jb)

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Hello, OMP Residents,

We are fast approaching the November general election. After November 5th, we will have elected many positions within our country — from a new President to a team of four Peninsula Township Trustees.

When I first thought about running for a trustee position, so many of my friends, colleagues and neighbors asked me why I would want to run for a political office due to all the negative backlash that I could receive. I was often met with, if you want to run, you must be willing to sling mud at your opponents.

I am sure that anyone who is reading this has received so many negative political campaign pieces where one person is vilifying their opponent. I cannot keep count anymore, to be honest, with the number of postcards, mailers, flyers, opinion articles, posts on NextDoor, and the list goes on, where individuals feel they can say disparaging remarks about others.

Every time I was asked if I was prepared to play dirty politics, I simply responded no. I refuse to get caught up in a negative undertow that we see too often in our country now. Why? Because I choose not to. I choose to pick up the phone or knock on someone’s door to speak to them personally. That is me to my core, always willing to cross the aisle to speak with someone and find proactive ways to solve issues.

Great leaders are those who can cut through argument, debate, and doubt to offer a solution that everyone can understand. Fred Swaffer served our country as an officer in the USAF. Being in the military means you need to be able to make good decisions quickly. This skill is sharpened through being a part of a large team in which everyone needs to do their part to ensure that an operation is accomplished.

J.P. Milliken is a physician who must ensure that procedures are followed through so that a patient has a successful surgery. He literally has the lives of his patients in his hands, and following the proper protocols and procedures is a must in his profession.

I have spent more than 25 years in leadership roles for large consumer goods companies. I’ve helped them navigate growth and change so that they can keep moving forward for the next 100 years.

Every time you have an opportunity to speak, you are auditioning for leadership. Remember that as you are reading this. Having courage means doing what it takes to stand up and speak, but it also means knowing what it takes to sit down and listen.

Being responsible to yourself means refusing to let others do your thinking, talking, or influencing your decisions. It means you learn to respect and use your own brains and instincts to grapple the hard tasks at hand. I encourage everyone to remember this as you cast your vote on November 5th.

It is my hope that everyone reading this can see how I choose to carry and lead as your elected Trustee.

Sincerely,
Kate Jerman

(Read all Peninsula Township Election 2024 News, Opinions and Candidate Questionnaires here. -jb)

Kate Jerman, candidate for Peninsula Township Trustee; Election 2024; leadership
Kate Jerman, candidate for Peninsula Township Trustee; Election 2024

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