Vote for a creative, practical candidate

I met Michael Black several years ago when we coached against each other in baseball. What impressed me most about him was his passion for teaching and giving players opportunities. Even in the heat of a close game, he never lost sight of why we were all there, to give kids a chance to play and grow. When the dust settled, win or lose, there was always a hearty handshake, words of encouragement and some good laughs.

Since that experience, I’ve had the privilege to get to know Black, as a fellow lover of the arts and as a friend. He pours himself into things he believes in, such as promoting the arts, though the only thing he stands to gain from his labor is the satisfaction of sharing something special with others.

Black is both creative and practical. Whether it is designing his own building for his business or navigating the complex process of getting the permission to build it, he’s someone who knows how to turn a vision into a reality.

I was pleasantly surprised when I found out that he was running for mayor. He’s not a politician, but politicians often don’t do a very good job of running things anyway. I like to think that a better choice is a person with creativity, passion, practical skills and a track record of success in the real world. Black is all of those things and a genuinely nice person, as well. I encourage you to give him your vote.

This story was originally published October 19, 2017 at 8:00 PM with the headline "Vote for a creative, practical candidate."