I just wanted to add something for a gentleman who is running for the city council of Maricopa. His name is Robert(Bob) Lewis. There was/is a column about him on the 85239.com homepage. The homepage is profiling all the candidates.

I know him as an economics instructor. He was my Microeconomics instructor during the fall 2007 semester at Central Arizona College. Currently, I am in his Macroeconomics class.

Why am I writing about him? Because, I feel that he isn't on the public radar. In fact, this is his own doing. In my view, he is a quiet man. But, he seems like a man who truly wants to help the City. So he is running for city council to fulfill his desire.

We have class discussions regarding politics. Is it to promote his causes? NO, I don't believe so. It is to teach us how much politics and economics are intertwined. We have discussions about global, national, and local economics. We follow our text books. The textbook talks about economic history and theory. History means more if we can learn by it and apply it to our current lives.

Does he have a crystal ball that knows all and sees all? No. No one does. But, he does have life experiences and the knowlege that he shares with the students on a regular basis.Does he have all the answers? No, I don't believe so. I don't know anyone who does. There might be people who think they might. So what else does he have? He knows that there is much to be learned from history. He knows that political factors like individual agendas play a role.

That isn't good or bad. That's just the way it is. We all have our agendas. We all believe we do what is best. It is only natural to have self interest in mind. It is how the self interest is used or perceived to be used that makes  a difference.

Personally, I don't know much about him. I know he owns a home in a community in Maricopa with his family. I know he moved to Maricopa in 2005. I know he attends the monthly open city council meetings. I know all the information that is available in the article in 85239.com and a website that is linked in the article. That information has come up discussion. I know I am one of many who has shared where I live and how long I've been here. It is something we do to get to know each other.

Do I know what he would be for or what he would be against? Maybe.maybe not.  Do I agree with him with everything. Of course, I do not. In fact, I honestly don't know his position on many issues that affect Maricopa.

The reason, I believe, is in his personality. He has a job to do in the classroom. Sure, he shares his experiences and ideas on many economic topics. But, he also encourages us to share ours. He never says we are right or wrong(except,for facts/definitions that are given in the textbook.) He encourages us to speak outloud to him and among ourselves. I believe he knows we all have our opinions. But, this is a way that we learn ....from eachother. This includes him. I'm sure he learns much from all his students.

I know first hand that the best way to learn a topic is to teach it. It may seem backwards. But, I learned more from teaching, instructing,and coaching others than I ever have doing any skill on my own. Why? An instructor must be prepared. He must. He doesn't have to know all the answers, but he must have a good idea of where the answer are found.In fact, sometimes he learns to answer questions before they are asked. In my experience,an instructor is always asking himself/herself " what will someone ask about this?" The instructor seeks to have an answer and reason for the answer.

Is he the best candidate? I don't know.  I encourage you to decide that for yourself. Please give everyone a look. Contact them all. Ask questions and share your opinions and views. Get  to know ALL of them.