Transparency is a core value for me
Government should serve its residents. Public information allows residents to understand how well its going - even if the news is bad.
A well-run government should be proud of its results, and share facts to inform residents.
Decision-makers should use facts to inform policies and procedures.
Here’s an example from my career:
As Urbana’s IT Director, I launched an Open Data portal in 2015.
It was one of my favorite projects because it combined:
Better information for decisions
Engagement with the community
…and a cost-effective solution to the original business problem: a reporting tool for our mainframe data.
There’s more about that here:
A blog from 2015 with lessons learned (#1… people want data tools in concept, but don’t really use it): https://blog.tectonicspeed.com/2015/04/open-for-data-business.html
A blog from 2017, when we saw benefits: https://blog.tectonicspeed.com/2017/01/you-never-give-me-your-answers-you-only.html
My Pecha Kucha speech about our CU Hack Night from the Summer of 2017: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdUDsvQGkiY
Transparency applies to my campaign, also
Below is our actual campaign budget.
(As of November 2025, and subject to change over time.)
If we are asking you to donate to the campaign, isn’t it fair that you know how the money will be used?
Campaign Budget
| Expense | Cost ($) |
| Office Supplies | 75 |
| PO Box | 200 |
| T-shirts - candidate | 200 |
| Google Workspace | 270 |
| Website | 276 |
| Giveaways | 360 |
| Petitions and Door Hangers | 850 |
| Vinyl Sign | 1,000 |
| T-shirts - others | 1,000 |
| Graphics | 1,125 |
| Advertising | 5,000 |
| Yard Signs | 6,200 |
| Campaign Staff | 7,000 |
| Mailings | 21,000 |
| Extra | 5,000 |
| Total | 49,556 |
