克城消息

浦瑛開講：競選市議員的Sarah

   7月25日星期六早上,在Hudson小鎮上,夏天農貿市場吸引無數人。天空靑天白雲,雖然大家都戴着口罩,還是能看到家人朋友在一起輕鬆的生活。
   一年一度的夏季農貿市場從六月份開始,人們從附近60mile的農場帶來新鮮蔬菜水果鮮花等來出售,雖然有點貴,但農場主是開車一個小時過來的,有的還帶一家人參與,我看到一個2個月的小寶寶在母親的懷里。一家人出售自家農場的蔬菜,當日我也買了不少新鮮的蔬菜,回家煮了,好吃。
   在農貿市場,我看到了一位名叫Sarah G.Norman女士,她手里拿着她的宣傳單在發給每一個路人,我走到她的身邊與她打了招呼,她説這次她要競選Hudson市議員,她吿訴我,她在Hudson已經生活了20多年,自己是律師,做過許多不同行業的工作,她説她願意服務大家,她也相信她能更好地爲大家服務,她要讓她自己住的城市變得更好,這是普通的人做不普通的事情,我很感動並吿訴她我要採訪她,我們相約7月28日在Panera bread咖啡店採訪她。
   Sarah開門見山問我:是想知道她爲什么參與政治的長故事還是短故事?我説長故事:Sarah的父母都是敎育工作者,她從小學習優秀,上大學前就對白宮政治有濃厚的興趣,第一年她就主修政治,第一年讀下來讓她看到政治的黑暗,第二年她就轉法律專業主修藝術和歷史,最後一年認識他的同校的比她高年級的他現在的先生,他們都畢業于凱斯大學,現已結婚27年,有4個孩子,二個在部隊服役,有一個十分健康幸福的家庭。

   Sarah做過不少工作都與她的專業對口,她從2004年義務服務社區到至今,從學校到縣政府到銀行都有她的工作經歷,讓她再次對政治感興趣是當年因爲她兒子的學校要修改數學敎科書,從幼兒園到12年級數學敎科書,這是要重新開始所有的數學理念的改變,這給孩子壓力很大,她説美國敎科書每年都有改變,只要是可以接受的改變都可以。不過這次數學敎科書的改變讓孩子重新認知,她參與敎育部和大家一致努力,成功不修改數學敎科書,讓她感到參與社區活動原來那么重要。還吿訴我一件事情,就是Ravenna馬路修路,當時那條路上的居民有不少意見,是Sarah幫助他們解決問題的,Sarah知道做一個社區負責人能幫助更多人。

   從疫情開始到反歧視遊行中有人趁機上街打砸搶,再加上現在中美關係緊張,Sarah就像一道光,她讓我再次看到學到美國百姓的精神,奉獻與平凡,Sarah的行動和精神感動我,她自己可以享受生活卻要出來幾乎免費花時間花金錢爲大家服務,這就是美國百姓參與社會的精神。我吿訴Sarah,Hudson有許多華人居民,我會幫助她實現願望,我還對她説,她的行爲感動我,我要向她學習,我看到她都流了眼淚,我很受鼓舞,因爲自己的行爲感動她人是自己最有福報的事情。

SARAH G. NORMAN SEEKS ELECTION
TO VACANT AT-LARGE COUNCIL SEAT
HUDSON –Twenty-year resident Sarah G. Norman announced today her intention to seek election to the vacant at-large city council seat in the November 3 general election.The seat was vacated by Councilman Dan Williams’s retirement.
“Last year’s municipal election showed that voters are eager for leadership at City Hall that will focus on investing in infrastructure like repaving roads and improving the connectivity plan, rather than spending taxpayer dollars on the new City Hall or Phase II,” Norman said. “The citizens called for it at the ballot box and we can see palpable, positive differences in Hudson since then. I am eager to work with Council on these initiatives”
Mrs. Norman said she would focus on several issues as a member of Council, including the fallout of the now-cancelled Downtown Phase II development, future plans for the Youth Development Center property, and infrastructure equity for all residents. Norman sees that the new wave of Council representatives has ushered in a better exchange of communication that has benefitted Hudsonites; she hopes to bring that enhanced accountability to the at-large seat for a change.
Norman kicked off the campaign with a socially distanced petition-signing and fund-raising drive-by event recently. “In less than a month, we have been able to raise nearly $2,500, and collect all of our needed petition signatures. We are excited to be running a campaign with such strong financial and grassroots support.”
“I am, at my core, a problem solver,”Norman said. “I believe that people have a right to expect their local leaders to approach problems with sincere intellectual curiosity and not deliver the politically expedient solution.” Norman has served on the Cemetery Board since 2016 and was an applicant for the Charter Review Commission, as well as the open seat created by Dr. Williams. City Council was unable to reach a consensus on any of the at-large applicants so the decision falls to the voters this November.
Norman and her husband, Forrest III, moved to Hudson from Shaker Heights in 2000. They raised their 4 children through the Hudson public schools. Norman has run the registration at the annual Twins Days Festival for the last 11 years. Besides serving on the Cemetery Board, Norman was actively involved in many sports and school groups and is the handbell choir director at Hudson Presbyterian Church.