Realtor turned mayoral candidate Bill Strauss’ name seems to always have a way of appearing in the peripheral edges of my mind. Whether it was seeing him listed as a top seller in a Coldwell Banker Magazine, or knowing his family as generational owners of Ruth’s Clothing Store, and later, in my generation, Cafe on Main, or even now, as the running ticket for Columbus mayor, his family name seems to keep reoccurring as committed public servants to Columbus and her people.
Look, I don’t know if Bill’s grandfather sold you some clothes, or if Bill himself sold you a house, or even if his family sold you some beef tips and gravy over rice at Cafe on Main. But what I do know is that we’ve endured decades of leaders with government experience while our population continues to decline and our economy slowly falters. What I do know is that this city needs a salesman’s touch. A salesman’s heart is a servant’s heart. You see, salesmen and saleswomen acquire a level of resilience and determination that simply cannot be acquired through any other means or experience. They have an unparalleled manner of compassion and respect, because they can relate to their community. They know what it means to build up from the ground, and their relatability is unmatched, because they remember the people in their community who helped them build along the way.
Being able to capture the heart of your community is a huge part of becoming a successful salesman and/or entrepreneur, and Bill has certainly proven to be successful in this area. As an individual who grew up almost all of my life in the City of Columbus, and as a concerned citizen who is eager to see our city’s economy thrive, I’m grateful for the many ways in which Bill’s salesman and entrepreneur experience has equipped him to be able to market Columbus to local and national retailers. But perhaps, what I’m most grateful for is the heart, the compassion, the relatability, the commitment, and the dedication that same experience has instilled into him. This election is crucial, and I encourage you to vote for the candidate whom you know will move this city forward! But if you’re uncertain exactly who that candidate is, I implore you to research and reach out! Get to know Bill, his family, and his mission for and extensive investment into the City of Columbus. He is a candidate who is not far removed from many of the same sentiments and struggles as his fellow citizens, and he understands Columbus, because he is a part of Columbus, and Columbus is a significant part of him.
Judah Bennett
Columbus
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 30 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 30 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
