Brian Gordon, 49, Merion
Lower Merion Township commissioner; former candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives
» Book on his nightstand: Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan. It’s a kids’ series, and it’s just great—Mommy’s already read all of them to [our daughter], so she’s getting a repeat [from me].
» Musical artist on repeat: Johnny Cash. I used to sing “I’ve Been Everywhere” with my daughter on the way to school in the mornings.
» Restaurant of the hour: Saffron Indian Kitchen in Bala Cynwyd.
» Personal hero: My father. He was willing to give of his time to represent people without significant resources because it was the right thing to do.
» One thing he knows for sure: If we don’t repair our country’s banking and financial system, we’ll have another Great Depression.
» Very own vici: Promoting environmentalism and conserving resources in Lower Merion by helping to get my entire office building to recycle, promoting riparian buffers in several of the township’s parks, and co-drafting a resolution requiring all future township buildings to be constructed in accordance with green building standards.
» Zen destination: Sailing on Barnegat Bay with friends at sunset.
» If he had an extra hour each day, he would: Spend time with my family.
» Life view: chance or fate? I would say chance. I’ve never been a fatalist. I think that most of us are fortunate enough to control our own destiny.
» Pet peeve: Tea party conservatives who believe the world started with the election of Sen. Scott Brown and refuse to acknowledge the mistakes of the past.
» Most marked characteristic: Independent thinker.
» Qualities he admires most in others: Courage and fairness.
» Mantra: If you work hard, you make your own luck.
