City of Ithaca Mayoral Candidate J.R. Clairborne delivered the following speech on Thursday, Oct. 13, in Washington Park. Increasingly alarming complaints from city residents, repeated occurrences of missing lawn signs, and reinforcing the message voters have real choice this election prompted this speech:
This year’s election provides City of Ithaca voters with a real choice.
Choice we can believe in, support and rally our vote around. I am that choice, J.R. Clairborne for your Mayor.
It is no secret that we will see the traditional allies line up and endorse wholeheartedly a candidate who many of these leaders know little about but —we expect that to occur ‘cause that’s Ithaca politics at work. That’s how the political game has been played here for a long time. Well throughout my tenure as an elected leader I haven’t been much of a politician. I just don’t know how to play the game instead I pride myself on being a representative leader for all my neighbors.
Marshaling an army of students to invade the city does not make a mayor. On the other hand I am surrounded by tax-paying property owners, permanent residents, and progressive neighbors who have experienced the cycles of change in this City. My supporters are active, progressive leaders, and most importantly, like me are fully invested in the future of Ithaca.
My desire to be a responsible leader means that I consistently speak out against hiring a city manager. Why does a Mayor who lives in the City, has experience on Common Council, and knows the City Department heads need to rely on a hired Manager? Why not rely on the all-inclusive team of Mayor, Common Council, and our talented department heads who, with leadership, will work together to make the important decisions about our City’s future? That’s the teamwork that I want to bring to City Government as opposed to adding another layer of government that we can ill-afford at this time.
I am not in this race for the star-power; there are no documentaries being made about me. I am here; I am still in it because I bring the balanced leadership, the good neighbor leadership and the responsible leadership that this City needs for its future growth.
Political campaigns have a strange way of bringing out unpleasant behaviors. I’ve heard many of your concerns from all sides of the campaigns about behaviors that many of you characterize as intimidating, which include argumentative door-to-door campaigners and removal (or theft as some describe it) of lawn signs. These are not acceptable behaviors and I urge all concerned to treat each other with respect. Everyone has a right to hold and express their opinions. Everyone also has a right to publicly express or keep to themselves who they support in any political campaign.
You have a choice for your next leader of Ithaca. Facts and rhetoric will not make your next Mayor, experience and responsible leadership will. You have that leader in me.
Give yourself that opportunity to exercise your right of choice for the next Mayor by making sure you register to vote by tomorrow, October 14. Then be sure to come out and vote on Nov. 8.
Thank you.
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