About Gary Leitzell

Gary and his wife share their pre-civil war historic home together with their 6 year old daughter in Walnut Hills, a house they continue to restore themselves (visit their house blog here). Gary has been a resident of Dayton for nearly the past 15 years. As the proud president of the Walnut Hills neighborhood association and the chairman of the Southeast Priority Board, Gary's been hard at work alongside our great citizens to make our city a better place to live, work, play, and participate. He loves Dayton and its people. And he can't wait to serve you as your next mayor to bring Dayton into better days and a brighter future. While he'd prefer to tell you about himself and his plans for our city over a cup of coffee on a Saturday morning, running for mayor keeps him pretty busy. So, until things slow down a bit, here' a few key facts about Gary Leitzell.

Non-Partisan

Politics should be about the people, not the parties . Unfortunately, all too often, just the opposite is seen, both nationally and locally. Political parties do have their place, giving people with similar values a collective voice; however, parties should never stand in the way of getting things done for the citizens whom elected officials have been chosen to serve. For this reason, Gary Leitzell has chosen to be an independent.

Gary holds strong to his convictions, such as equal access for all to the pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness and an efficient government that puts the power in the people's hands. It is because of this strength of conviction that he prefers not to align himself with a political party whose positions are changed by the newest polling data or most recent attack ad. Party politics work for many, but not for him.

"A house divided against itself cannot stand." This was as true for the United States a century and a half ago as it is for Dayton today. Gary looks forward to working with Republicans and Democrats alike as a unifying force for the betterment of the Gem City.

Entrepreneur

It takes a special type of person to start his or her own business. Not many enjoy the pressure of placing their family's well-being on the ability of their business to succeed in an uncertain market. But Gary wouldn't have it any other way.

Having owned his own business for over 15 years , he provides a previously untapped market with exceptional service and has become a leader in his field. He thrives on the creativity and problem solving that is crucial to the success of any small business owner. Conventional thinking is a certain end to any small business in today's competitive economy.

As mayor, he'll bring to office the innovative thinking and business savvy he's gained from years of running his own business successfully. Now more than ever, Dayton needs a mayor who is willing and able to solve old, worn-out problems with new, original ideas.

Community Leader

Strong cities start with strong communities. After experiencing City Hall's disinterest in the well-being of the common citizen and Dayton's neighborhoods as a whole first-hand, Gary knew he had to get involved.

Gary's experiences with City Hall started in 1999, when he was elected as Priority Board representative of his Walnut Hills neighborhood. Later, in 2004, he was elected to serve as the president of the Walnut Hills Neighborhood Association. And in 2008 he was elected chairperson of the Southeast Priority Board, an office he still holds after running unopposed in 2009. In this capacity, Gary represents over 40 percent of Dayton's citizens to City Hall.

Gary is passionate that improvements downtown mean little if those who live and raise families in Dayton neighborhoods remain unaffected. As mayor, he will fight diligently to empower citizens and neighborhood leaders to create safe, beautiful neighborhoods that make people once again proud to call Dayton their hometown.