Most successful business leaders have mastered the art of effective communication and teamwork. Those at the apex of a successful business must have more. Successful executives show leadership and vision, are transparent and accountable, and achieve measurable objectives within a budget.

Tom Hornish is such a leader and would be a welcome addition to the Sammamish City Council.

As an Air Force officer and fighter pilot who served in the Gulf War, Tom knows all about teamwork and mission objectives. As a successful attorney, he further refined his advocacy and collaboration skills. As the president and chief executive of a publicly traded company, he showed integrity and leadership as the business realized record revenues while effectively managing expenses.

Like Ramiro Valderrama and Christie Malchow, Tom believes in balanced growth in our community. Balanced growth must not burden our infrastructure, add to our commute times or diminish the aesthetics and character of Sammamish.

Sammamish should not become the high-density living communities of Redmond and Bellevue. Tom favors a balanced approach that examines the effects of development on the environment and our community quality of life. He also favors an approach which looks at the impact of rapid development on city finances.

Tom has been an environmental leader in objecting to the council’s decisions in the Sammamish River Trail project. Such decisions have resulted in unnecessary tree removal and trail widening, possibly damaging lake salmon due to run-off. He also has been vocal concerning the lack of transparency among certain members of the city council and their lack of accountability to their constituents.

Hornish, together with Valderrama and Malchow, would bring strong leadership and vision to the city of Sammamish.