Ryan for City-Council - It's Official!

So things are official.  I've already been talking to folks throughout the city for the last several weeks and today I sent out a formal press release (see below).  I'm excited to get the campaign started!

Ryan Frandsen to seek open Provo City Council City-Wide I Seat

Local businessman and

former Planning Commissioner seeks to replace Laura Cabanilla

PROVO, Utah –Ryan Frandsen today announced his intention to seek the Provo City Council City-Wide I Seat.  Frandsen seeks to fill the seat of outgoing City Council Member Laura Cabanilla. Ms. Cabanilla will not seek a second term and has endorsed Mr. Frandsen.

“There are so many exciting things happening in Provo. I believe I can add value and help direct our current momentum” Frandsen said.  “Provo was recently ranked by Forbes magazine as the third best place to live in the entire nation. Our cost of living, housing affordability, low crime rates and education opportunities are phenomenal. The projected growth rate for businesses in our city over the next 18 months is 2.5%. Where else are you going to find that in today’s national landscape? Those great things did not just happen. It has taken leadership and planning to get us here and it is going to take directed vision to keep us here.”

“I understand Provo’s strengths and can see where we need to be headed and what we need to do to build on the great foundation we have. I want to represent the citizens of Provo as those growth decisions are made.”

Adding Value to our Businesses

“Our regulatory environment needs to be consistent, clear, and reasonable,” Frandsen said.  “I will be active in promoting a vibrant business environment where start-ups can thrive and new businesses will want to come. An even higher priority is fighting for our existing and often neglected local business heroes.”   

Adding Value to our Neighborhoods

“As a City Council Member I will also be a strong advocate for protecting our traditional neighborhoods,” Frandsen said.  He continued; “A city is only as strong as its neighborhoods.  As a former Planning Commissioner, I’ve personally seen threats to my own neighborhood as well as others in our city. I will be active in preserving that which makes Provo such a great place – our neighborhoods.”  

Adding Value to our Families

“Our unique mix of retirees, (we were recently listed as ‘the best city for successful aging’) University students and traditional families create the core foundation that makes Provo what it is. My highest priority will be protecting the individuality of those diverse demographics while maintaining the family values we all share. Our community needs to be safe and family friendly. I will work to keep our crime rates low, provide wholesome recreational opportunities and keep cost of living and doing business family friendly.” Frandsen said. 

Ryan and his wife Amy have four children.  He is currently the Director of Small Business Funding for Prosper, Inc. and has served on Provo’s Planning Commission. Ryan is a BYU graduate and received an MBA from the University of New Mexico. You can learn more about Ryan and his vision for Provo at www.RyanFrandsen.com

The Bletchley Circle

My wife and I love to watch Masterpiece Classic on Sunday nights.  From Downton to Wallander, we love a good mystery and an old fashion soap opera.  Recently, after Masterpiece, PBS has started airing a new series called The Bletchley Circle.  We've been hooked.

The story is about a group of four women who were genius code crackers for the British during World War II.  Following the War all espionage service members were forced to sign The Official Secrets Act.  In the show (and actual history) these women were not allowed to tell others, even their husbands, what type of work they did during the war.  In many respects they returned to normal everyday lives. As one of the girls begins to recognize potential patterns (like codes) in a local serial killing spree she rallies her former colleagues to solve the case.  It's been fun to watch.

What I can't help but think about is how many "Bletchley Girls" we have right here in Provo.  How many talented, smart, and completely capable women who are at home happy raising their families but together compose a huge untapped pool of talent.

Enter Google Fiber.

I really hope that one of the results of Google Fiber is that stay-at-home mothers can find ways to continue to develop their interests and talents.  That more mothers who need to or choose to work can do so more easily from home - and that fathers too can have more flexibility to tele-commute and spend more time at home with their families.

Time will tell what impact Google Fiber will have on Provo and our homes and families.  But I would love to see the next big thing come from a stay-at-home mom with a great idea and who now has the tools to see it come to fruition.