Reasons For Running
The discussion below is the result of an email inquiry from a freshman, Ivy Tech Community College "polysci" student in 2010
Dear Mr. Caldwell, Thank you for your inquiry. I will attempt to answer your questions because I believe so much in education and I, myself, am a life long learner. I have attached my resume for your perusal so you may see my background in detail. If you have further questions, please don't hesitate to contact me again. Your elected representative, Dan (H. Dan Adams, MD FACS MBA, Evansville City Councilman At-Large)
What was your reason for running?
In 1998, following an injury to my right leg, I developed a severe, deep clot in that limb. Although fortunate to survive, I knew I could no longer practice my vocation as a heart surgeon. God had thrust me toward a new walk of life. I began to seek out my future path by steadily taking various college courses, which culminated in 2002 when I obtained an MBA from Washington University - St Louis. In 2003, a dear friend asked me to be her campaign manager. The race was extremely close, and she lost by only two votes out of 2,008 total! I stayed active behind-the-scenes in politics. As the 2007 race came around, friends and colleagues encouraged me to run for the City Council At-Large position. As my years of helping people as a physician were fulfilling and rewarding, I felt that serving as a City Council member might be another meaningful way that I could help the people of my community.
Why do you make a good candidate?
From my years as a heart surgeon to my current work on the City Council, I have a lifetime of experience analyzing the facts, determining a course of action, and solving problems. I am a careful listener who works hard to have an empathetic ear to what the people want and need. I bring all of those things to bear in my present role. Being retired, I can devote myself full time to my work as a Council Member. Oh, and I always remember that I put my pants on one leg at a time, just like everyone else.
What is your professional philosophy?
I strive to be the best I can be at whatever task I am presented. As it was a privilege (not a right) for people to trust me with their lives when I was practicing as a heart surgeon, I am grateful to have this opportunity to provide leadership for the community that I love so much. It is important that I listen to all my constituents carefully, and paramount that I take every one of them seriously. When appropriate, I actually visit the site of constituent problems, gather as much information as possible, sleep on the problem (this REALLY helps... and I recommend it to all), and then I filter all of the information into a potential workable solution. I do not let the possibility of political fallout get in the way of decisions that are good for the people of Evansville.
What are your titles and duties?
As one of three Evansville City Council At-Large Members, I have the responsibility and honor of representing the entire city for a four-year term. My duties fall into two general categories: both of which are important to me. The first is constituent concerns. I receive emails, mail, and phone calls from citizens who have individual problems or concerns, usually affecting their neighborhoods. Responding to every one of them, I go see the problem and find the appropriate city administration official to hopefully correct the defect (a dangerous pothole, for example). The other part of my job is studying in depth the various and complex problems of our city that arise, such as: should we build a new arena, how do we fund our police and firefighters' needs, how do we ensure that our trash is properly collected and re-used for energy, how do we nurture inner city revitalization without starving the rest of Evansville's maintenance, how do we separate the storm water runoff system from the sewer so the two waters no longer mix as they do now, or how do we spend your taxpayer money wisely and not frivolously. When I travel, I always read the local newspapers to see how they deal with the similar problems we have. I will be running for re-election this year (2011). The people of Evansville will tell me with their vote, if I have done a good job.
Thanks for asking me ...Dan