Matt Little Discusses His First Year on Lakeville's Council

As 2011 comes to an end, City Council member Matt Little is wrapping up what he sees as a successful first year in office.

Among his proudest accomplishments are the city’s decisions to hire two part-time police records technicians and to renovate the former Lakeville Police Station, which will open as the new Heritage Center in 2012. The Heritage Center will house the , Beyond the Yellow Ribbon and the .

Despite these successes, Little’s first year on the council was not without conflict. Little was at the center of a .

“I think disagreement is part of the process,” said Little. “It’s good to have different perspectives.”

Little has several high priorities for the coming year, he says. He hopes to build a continued commitment to public safety, increasing Lakeville’s police force as the population grows. He wants to bring more quality jobs to Lakeville as well.

Little says he would also like to use technology to lower government costs, specifically by minimizing paper use whenever possible.

Increasing community involvement is another major goal for Little. He plans to engage with Lakeville residents through facebook and twitter, as well as through more traditional means of communication, such as letter writing and attending events.

However, Little’s most ambitious goal for 2012 is probably the mayoral seat. He his candidacy in November and will be running against current mayor Mark Bellows. Little stated that his decision to campaign for mayor was partially due to community members who have requested that he run.

“Lakeville needs better leadership,” said Little. “I think I can provide that.”