A clear plan, a steady hand, and a community-first mindset—Mayor Gary Carey opens up about how Walker stayed focused through change and turned long-term planning into everyday wins. We talk about the five pillars that guide our decisions, why public safety sits at the top, and how a once-sparse industrial park became the tax base that funds more officers, a full-time fire department, better parks, and stronger infrastructure.

We share the backstory behind those big moves: partnerships that made shovel-ready land possible, the FedEx facility that sparked momentum, and a pro-business stance that still screens for the right fit. Then we get into the hard parts—trade-offs of a full-time fire service, from staffing to facilities and long-term funding, and how shifting medical calls from police to fire unlocks capacity where it matters most. On housing, we break down the master plan’s push for balance, the financial realities of rental versus single-family in a city like ours, and why every approval must be weighed against ten-year consequences.

Looking ahead, we lay out the leadership transition in City Hall, from the city manager’s retirement to commission seats that need steady, policy-minded people. If you’ve served on a committee or want to learn, now is the time to step up. We also highlight regional wins—dedicated Rapid bus routes in Walker for the first time and Metro Council support that helped us build smarter. Through it all, we come back to civility: disagree without breaking trust, and keep the city pointed forward.

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