“People respond to being listened to and being perceived that you’ve treated them fairly”
Welcome everyone and thanks for tuning in to episode 37 of the It Matters To Me Podcast, a show that celebrates the random through 1-on-1 conversations with people and the passions they pursue. 
With me today is the Mayor of Wheat Ridge, Colorado, Bud Starker. 
Born in Houston, Texas into an Air Force officer’s family, his childhood was spent all around the world and is as diverse as they come. 
From the Deep South here in the U.S. all the way to Tehran, Iran, Mayor Starker was exposed to life and cultures abroad some of us can only dream about. 
We kick things off by talking about that childhood and the ensuing years that saw him open his own construction business and eventually owning his own restaurant, West 29th Restaurant and Bar, here in Wheat Ridge. 
We then get to the heart of the show and discover why he decided to make the leap into politics and the role he’s played since being elected in 2017. 
With 2022 already shaping up to be a pretty divisive election year across the country, I wanted to have Bud on because he represents what I think we all want in our politicians: compassion and civility. 
Don’t worry, this isn’t an episode about which side of the political aisle he’s on or any of the policies he supports. It’s a personal conversation about giving back to the community you’re in and recognizing the virtues of the Golden Rule, even in something as polarizing as local government. 
Additional Links 
Mayor Starker, City of Wheat Ridge: 
https://www.ci.wheatridge.co.us/88/Mayor 
West 29th Restaurant and Bar: 
https://west29th.com/ 
It Matters To Me (Instagram): 
https://www.instagram.com/adamcasey/ 
It Matters To Me (Website): 
https://itmatterstomepodcast.com/ 
It Matters To Me (Twitter): 
https://twitter.com/CelebrateRandom