Patrick Loebs is seeking one of two at-large Warsaw City Council seats. The primary is May 5 and the election is Nov. 3. Loebs, 34, a Republican, has not run for political office before. He is in his second year as an assistant professor of communication at Grace College. “This is a wonderful community, and I am blessed to call it home for both my professional and personal life,” Loebs said in a press release. “My goal for seeking a position at the Warsaw common council is simple: I envision a Warsaw wherein citizens are actively involved in creation of the policies they live under which results in the community feeling confident their ideas will be heard with contemplative consideration. “Too often, government seems to serve as an obstacle to the goals or ideas of well-meaning citizens. I’ve met too many people who characterize their experience with politics as feeling talked down to or ridiculed because their suggestions didn’t pass muster. For me, this unfortunate result is contrary to the very principles of American self-government.” He said in the release he wants to serve as an advocate for citizens, allowing the opportunity, and encouraging those with ideas or important causes to confidently participate in the policy-making process. “Good ideas deserve support and the people deserve the opportunity to explain why their ideas are good. I desire to be an ally for those who care deeply about the betterment of this city,” he said. Loebs said not every proposed idea will automatically result in a changed policy, but every idea deserves to be thoughtfully considered and every citizen deserves the chance to approach the council with confidence that they will be heard, and that their concerns will be considered. “When necessary, this includes allowing criticism of standing or proposed policies. As an example, citizens are right to be critical of infringements on personal liberty or when they feel their taxes are being misappropriated. Similarly, they have the right to voice frustrations when they feel their concerns are dismissed,” he said. Issues important to him are maintaining a thriving business climate while looking for new areas of potential growth. He said this includes attracting new businesses, partnering with nonprofit organizations such as the KC Velo Club to make the city more bicycle-friendly, building on the excellence of the Warsaw Community school system, seeking a “liberty-sensitive” solution to the problem of deteriorating homes and rental properties, preserving the natural beauty of the lakes and parks and promoting public safety through neighborhood initiatives and well-equipped fire and police departments. Other issues he listed are increasing neighborhood pride and working to beautify the city, expanding the technological capabilities of the city through fiber optic systems and other infrastructure and looking toward the future and exploring ways that Warsaw can prepare for the next 25 years of growth and change. “I am not so naive to believe that the council can satisfy all people at all times. Certainly, tensions will always exist when opposing ideas are vying for acceptance. But, as I teach in the classroom, healthy policy results from civil, reasoned conversation, and cannot occur in a closed system. I believe we all want the same thing for this city; among those common goals is the desire for peace, prosperity and liberty,” he said in the release. “Differences stem only from the various suggested implementations of those goals. As a resident of Warsaw, these are the issues that concern me. I believe that by focusing on commonalities and seeking compromise, Warsaw has tremendous opportunity to grow in each of these areas to the benefit of all citizens.” He and his wife, Heidi, have been married for eight years. They have one child, Greta, 2, and another due in April.
