How do you feel after winning the election?
David Restrepo: I feel deeply honored—and, if I’m honest, a little overwhelmed. This wasn’t something I ever imagined for myself, but the support from the community has been humbling. I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who believed in a campaign rooted in service, not spectacle. Now that the celebration is behind us, I’m focused on the real work ahead.
What are your top three priorities for the city and how do you plan to achieve them?
David Restrepo: Public Safety and Health – Ensuring our first responders and medical teams are equipped, supported, and connected across departments. This means better training, resource allocation, and creating stronger inter-agency protocols.
Economic Development – Supporting local businesses, encouraging entrepreneurship, and creating opportunities for sustainable growth. We'll start by listening—business owners know what they need. My job is to remove barriers and amplify their strengths.
Community Trust & Engagement – Rebuilding trust between residents and local government. That starts with transparency, accessible leadership, and keeping open lines of communication—not just during crises, but every day. My “Coffee with the Mayor” chats at Buena Vibra will continue for exactly that reason.
What do you see as the biggest challenges facing our city, and what strategies will you employ to address them?
Trust. Without trust, even the best policies fall flat. People need to know their voices matter and that leadership is listening. We’ve also seen recent spikes in violence—so collaboration between police, medical teams, legal departments, and community leaders will be key.
We’ll tackle these challenges with realistic planning, steady leadership, and by empowering the people already doing the hard work on the ground. It won’t be solved overnight— but I believe consistency and empathy go a long way.
How do you plan to foster collaboration and communication between the mayor's office, the city council, and the community?
David Restrepo: By making space for dialogue. I’ve always said leadership is a two-way street. I’ll maintain regular meetings with council members, make sure every department feels heard, and open consistent channels with the public—both formally and informally.
No one office holds all the answers. I’ll keep listening, keep asking questions, and make sure this administration isn’t something people watch from the outside—but something they feel part of.
