As the fifth of eight children, Susan O'Rourke learned at an
early age that, in order to be heard, she would have to be smart
and strong. Those qualities have served her well as an adult, too.
Since she excelled at logic and creative problem solving in school,
Susan instinctively knew engineering was her calling. She enrolled
at Vanderbilt University, a top engineering school, and took a job
with a national engineering firm within days of graduating.
The Right Road.
Susan O'Rourke's special gift was seeing all the angles in a problem
and developing a workable solution. Becoming an engineer made sense.
She committed herself to a life of excellence early on, and now
she strives to make a difference in her own life and her neighbors'
lives by running a successful business, raising three responsible
boys, and volunteering her time for worthy community causes.
Ask
her friends and neighbors why they believe she's the best candidate
for County Commission and they'll tell you that, beyond her impressive
resume and personal integrity, Susan O'Rourke will work until the
job is done - long after others have given up or moved on.
That's not to say her life is perfect. She admits it's difficult
raising a family on her own, keeping on top of her business and
now, making her first run for public office. But, as her father
always said, there's a price to pay for anything worth having.
In fact, she looks back at her life and marvels how her parents
were able to save and sacrifice to afford their family trips, the
memories of which still bring a smile to her face.
On those especially hectic days, Susan will pull out a card she's
kept close since her first job in West Palm Beach. On it are three
letters: PMA, for Positive Mental Attitude, and she hears her Dad's
voice when she sees it.
The Right Way.
Have a plan and follow it.
It's a simple-but-effective strategy that has helped Susan O'Rourke
do the right thing in tough times and has won her the admiration
and trust of colleagues, employees and friends.
The managing partners at Kimley-Horne recognized her business acumen
when they put Susan in charge of opening a California branch office
when she was just 25 years old. While her peers were still "finding
themselves," Susan was managing staff, meeting a payroll, and working
on significant engineering projects for the state.
But that's Susan, always pushing her own limits and raising the
bar.
Even in high school she demonstrated a commitment to her community.
She participated in student government and volunteered in a half-dozen
service clubs, including the Youth Conservation Corpse. In college,
despite a grueling schedule of classes, she was president of her
freshman dorm and involved with IMPACT, a young professional leadership
program.
The Right Candidate at the Right Time.
Susan O'Rourke has what it takes to govern Martin County.
She's determined to steer the county in a direction that meets the
needs of the entire population, not just a few. Never frivolous
with time or money, she's that rare breed of candidate who understands
politics but rises above political "solutions."
She is an expert in transportation forecasting, transit and traffic
analysis, long-range transportation planning and the maintenance
of traffic during construction - a professional perspective that
is urgently needed as far-reaching growth management decisions are
made.
She will ask the right questions, demand reasonable answers and
get things done for this County. She will set realistic goals, develop
a responsible vision, and see it through to the end.
Most of all, she will get it right.
Growing up, her mom used to tell Susan to take a break and
relax. Now she doesn't waste her breath.
Because Susan O'Rourke won't rest until the job is done … and there's
always another problem that needs solving.
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