On April 12, with complete confidence and high hopes, I will be casting one of my three City Council votes for Thomas Small.

My confidence stems from my long-standing and deep friendship with his family. My high hopes arise from my distinct impression that he is an expert in disciplines that matter immensely to our fair city at this important juncture.

The only non-incumbent candidate who parents children in the School District, Mr. Small has demonstrated his commitment to our schools as both a parent and a volunteer.

Due to our friendship, I was privy to the knowledge that the contribution his family would be able to make to our community by attending their home school was a significant factor in their decision to attend Linwood Howe.

Mr. Small since has proven this theory to be true by volunteering his time to teach before-school Spanish to 150 elementary school students as part of our Spanish Language program during its most vulnerable pilot year, thereby ensuring its success.

This program is preparing for its third year of teaching 90-minutes per week of immersive Spanish reading, writing and speaking to one third of the Lin Howe student population, free of charge.

This intimate understanding of the schools will allow Mr. Small to improve communication between City Hall and the School District in ways that can facilitate collaboration and crossover on critical projects, such as stormwater management and The Culver Studios expansion.

He Is a Collaborator

Here is where my friendship with Mr. Small matters to voters other than me. What I know of him assures me that collaboration on large scale plans such as these, and so many of the others pending and in process all over town right now, will be much easier with Mr. Small at the helm. He relentlessly reaches across the aisle to bring disparate Culver City groups together.

He will adeptly seek the input of stakeholders and put together expert advisory teams on potentially contentious issues, including development, traffic, and transportation, without losing sight of a project’s unique impact, urgency or primary goals.

In direct relationship to such hot topics, Mr. Small’s education and sophistication do matter in this remarkable hour in Culver City’s history.

Now, more than in recent times, it is critical that the Council makes decisions about development projects that demonstrate cultural sensitivity to art and beauty, and that also honor the diversity of residents and businesses that we most successfully attract and support.

My dreams for the future of Culver City grow big when I think of Mr. Small’s experience moderating Sustainable Design Award juries in San Francisco, New York and Copenhagen, and his presentations at conferences in Tokyo and London on Green and Livable Cities. He taught for the Sustainability Certificate program at UCLA. When I remember that, along with all of his other credentials and characteristics, I say to myself, “Imagine what we could do right here in Culver City if that guy was on Council.”

Mr. Small brings something different to the table. He is ahead of the curve in ways that when combined with his incredibly generous, affable spirit, would give any voter an expectation of greatness.

Dr. Kent, Ph.D, a member of the School Board, may be contacted at kellyakent@gmail.com