The residents of Fort Collins District 2 have the opportunity to elect Ray Martinez to represent them on the Fort Collins City Council. This election matters beyond the boundaries of District 2 because, in Ray Martinez, these voters can elect a proven leader who has always served the entire Fort Collins community with honor and dignity. Ray Martinez is a remarkable public servant who leads by example. Over a career that spans more than 30 years, he has been involved in every aspect of community service, from respected police officer and investigator to three-term mayor of Fort Collins to state and national leader in public safety, community and neighborhood relations and educational policy.

With so many levels of government gridlocked, it is important Fort Collins city government not succumb to pandering to narrow vested interests. We have a variety of community issues — ranging from CSU/community housing, low-income and homeless housing and assistance, Old-Town redevelopment, public transportation infrastructure, river corridor protection. To ensure city government can be made to work we need a proven leader who has experience and ideas and is willing to engage in constructive dialogue to tackle tough problems. A leader such as Ray Martinez is the person who has demonstrated results in our community. I would hope the residents of District 2 will vote for Ray and in doing so give all of Fort Collins a leader who will represent the interest of all Fort Collins residents.

Roger Morgan lives in Fort Collins.