On Friday, February 20, Dublin will announce its 2008 Citizen of the Year award to an individual who has made signifant contribution toward enhancing the quality of life for residents of Dublin during the past year. Hands down, the nominee that should receive the award is John M. Zukoski. The award is for an individual with signficant contribution in enhancing the quality of life for residents of Dublin, and I believe John has done that and more so in many ways. He sets the bar for what a Dublin resident is–a visionary leader, a contributing volunteer, and most important a friend of all residents. John, my family and I particularly thank you for your tireless efforts in making Dublin one step closer to a premier California city for many years ahead.
Below is my entire nomination letter for John that was not completely read at this past Tuesday City Council meeting.
The City of Dublin has a clear and obvious choice for the 2008 Citizen of the Year Award, and that person is John M. Zukoski. I feel privileged to know John not just as a friend, but also as Dublin’s unofficial marketing director and city reporter. His tireless volunteer efforts to promote Dublin and keep its residents well informed about the many exciting developments throughout the city earn John M. Zukoski my nomination as Citizen of the Year.
Most Dublin residents know John from his Around Dublin Blog (http://www.arounddublinblog.com) and his recent run for City Council. John conducted an honorable campaign, placing third with nearly 4,000 votes. Though only two seats were available, a third place finish did not diminish John’s dedication to Dublin and its residents at all. He continues to spend countless hours poring over City Staff reports, attending City Council and Planning Commission meetings regularly, and documenting in layperson terms key decisions and their ramifications on his blog. John always writes in a neutral, yet upbeat, voice, so his readers may make up their own minds, especially on the controversial issues. Of equal importance is the public forum John’s blog provides to his readers. Dublin residents now have a convenient and highly visible place to share their opinions on local issues. John’s hard work has opened up city business to a level of public scrutiny never before seen and excited a growing constituency, most of whom have been politically unengaged, in this emerald city of Northern California. By generously donating his considerable time and energy, John has produced a novel and invigorating foundation for an information exchange network where all residents can freely contribute and discuss their ideas and perspectives for the betterment of Dublin’s future. At a time when local press coverage is almost non-existent as the newspaper industry falters, the in-depth reporting and analysis John consistently delivers on all the popular issues affecting his community have become increasingly vital. John’s efforts have inspired his readers to get involved. Moved by his perpetual optimism, we yearn to see the high quality growth and expansion that is within Dublin’s reach. The City of Dublin is blessed to have the Around Dublin Blog, a comprehensive and accessible information resource that is truly unique to Dublin, CA.
In addition to publishing the Around Dublin Blog, John is an active member of the Dublin Rotary Club who regularly volunteers at the Dublin Senior Center and earned high marks for coordinating an event that honored Bay Area World War II veterans. He serves on the local advisory board for Camp Galileo, an educational service program that helps kids discover their passion for learning. He is also on the Board of Directors for the Home Owners Association of the Terraces at Dublin Ranch Villages, safeguarding the fiduciary interests of over 1,000 residents. On top of all these worthy community services, John is a senior manager at Robert Half International, Inc., where he excels at meeting hard deadlines for complex international payroll and reporting projects that cross multiple time zones. What speaks most to me about John are not his extraordinary abilities but his passion to turn Dublin into a showcase city of the East Bay. I applaud John’s aspirations to have our local businesses thrive, to retain current residents while attracting new ones to Dublin, and to see our beloved Dublin Unified School District achieve the reputation of being second to none in the Bay Area.
Finally, what is arguably John’s greatest asset is his gift as a listener. During his campaign, I met with him to discuss his reasons for running in the City Council election and his priorities for Dublin. I spoke from my perspective as a parent about my hopes and concerns for Dublin and what I would like my baby son’s experience to be as he goes through Dublin’s public school system. John listened with full attention, not once interrupting my train of thought. After I said my peace, John responded thoughtfully and thoroughly to each and every point I had brought up. He had nothing but gracious compliments for the mayor and councilmembers, noting that their jobs are challenging as they do what they feel is best for Dublin. The fact that John campaigned without once criticizing city leaders speaks volumes about his character. Ever since that first meeting, my family and I have been enthusiastic supporters of John. He is not just a friend to my family; he is a friend to all of Dublin. I have no doubt that John’s dedication to our community will continue for years to come, but in 2008, his hard work, involvement in the community, and exemplary personal attributes entitle him to be named Dublin’s Citizen of the Year.
