Night of the debate

My opening and closing remarks

Opening

“This is the question: Who among the 3 of us possess the most fitting qualification... because qualification, matters.

Public service is public trust but sadly, that solemn oath, have not only lost its character, but more significantly its moral value as well, that as a result, our government is no longer a government of the people, by the people and for the people. Rather a government of the party that wins the mayoral seat. That should not be acceptable.

But in all fairness, none of us is completely blameless for as we all know, it takes 2 to tango so when we purposely close our eyes to the abuses committed in our name, and extend the same trusting hand, each and every election year, to the very same behavior that tramples our sacred trust, encouraged by our misguided loyalty, to our party affiliation, instead of to ourselves; who should we blame?

As many of you may recall, this is not my first rodeo. I have been down this road before, which to some of my detractors is reason enough for disdain, but I remain undaunted for their criticism only strengthens my resolve, mindful that the unpleasant reputation that cast dark shadows above us all, still remains, as we are still remembered even in the farthest corner of our state by the mocking epithet Staven.

And because reputation is everything and risks endangering our children’s future as well, is more than reason enough why it has to stop; why it must change. It is not a legacy worth bequeathing.

And that is the reason I stand before you tonight as the only candidate who has showed determination and manifest achievements in community activism, having confronted violence and hooliganism in our neighborhood years ago, to successfully restore, the peace and quiet it has lost, which expectation, neither Town Hall nor the police was able to provide.

Someone you can rely on to restore accountability, for I, as much as you, only want our town to be a better place than when we found it. Thank you.”

Closing

“I hope that even in some small way, I was able to make clear my position, regarding the multiple issues that will play, a towering role in how our government will be overseen, for the next couple of years, for the decisions that will be made, in yours and our children’s name, will and could either enhance the quality of our lives, or continue to chip it away.

It is that life-changing.

That the core values and insights I embrace, are qualities, that would help ameliorate, the troubling circumstance that years of neglect and indifference have inflicted.

Without a doubt, none of us who stand before you tonight, have all the answers, nor can we be absolutely sure, that even if we did, that they are exactly the cure for what ails.

But this much I can say. I always do the best I can. And those who know us, my wife and me, could attest to that claim.

And let us also remember, we are a diverse community of many faces and aspirations, but are nevertheless united as one, in pursuit of a dream, of providing a brighter tomorrow for our children.

But accomplishing those tasks, require a fundamental change in outlook, for the future of our town cannot be changed for the better, by those same questionable inward-looking attitude, that corrupted it in the first place. It just could not, so that must change. And for our children’s sake most of all, it has to change.

So if you think what I think, and feel what I feel, I ask you to stand with me in this election, for all of us together can remake our town’s image and reputation, not just worthy of our name but more significantly that of our children.

The decision is yours my fellow citizens.

Good evening and thank you for listening.”