Good evening everyone – I’m so pleased to see so many of you here tonight to share this special moment with me and my family. For those of you that might not know my family let me take just a minute to introduce them to you.
Before I discuss why I have asked you to be with me tonight, let me take just a minute to thank David Davila for his kind introduction. Those of you who know David know his commitment and concern for our community, and I’m extremely grateful that he has agreed to help me with all the hard work that is going to take place over the next year.
Almost 3 years ago I stood before many of you and accepted defeat in the last Georgetown mayor’s race. At that time I told you that while I was extremely disappointed in losing such a closely contested election, I would do everything I could do to help the new mayor in her transition into the mayor’s office.
I did exactly what I said I would do, and I think even Mayor Sames would tell you I cooperated in every manner possible to make sure her transition went smoothly.
After I left office I decided the best thing I could do was to not comment on any actions of the mayor, and leave it up to Mrs. Sames to run the city. The voters had spoken, and I thought she deserved the courtesy of me keeping my opinions to myself.
At that time, if you had asked me if I ever thought I would run for mayor of Georgetown again, I would have told you NO. Certainly, I think it is fair to say that I had no intention whatsoever of running for any public office again.
However, as a person who truly cares about my community, I have kept up with what has been going on in Georgetown.
When Mrs. Sames took office and immediately began to terminate some of the best employees of the city, and hire her supporters into positions of authority for which they were not prepared or qualified, I remained silent;
When Mrs. Sames began to unravel the excellent working relationship between the city and county, and threaten the high quality of services provided by these joint efforts, I remained silent; and
When Mrs. Sames management style began to destroy the morale of city employees and the effectiveness of city services, I remained silent.
For almost 3 years I have watched in dismay as the community that I care about so deeply has declined and suffered.
During that time I have seen our community go from being envied throughout Kentucky, to being used as an example of a community in disarray.
I have watched in silence as the management style of this mayor, if you want to call it that, has resulted in a record number of lawsuits being filed against the mayor and the city.
Well folks, enough is enough! I can no longer remain silent. While I never thought I would step up and offer myself for public service again, I cannot sit back and watch what is happening to our community any longer.
It is time for us to work together to restore Leadership for Georgetown.
Those of you here tonight know exactly what I am talking about.
If you take time to talk with employees of the city, they will tell you that every single city agency has suffered under the reign of this mayor.
In fact, there is not a single city agency that functions as well today, as it did 3 short years ago. Our agencies are understaffed, overworked and this threatens our safety and the community’s quality of life.
This past summer the city settled just 2 of the lawsuits that have been filed as a result of this mayor’s actions for a total of almost $600,000, and there are many more former employees waiting for their day in court.
When an insurance company agrees to pay these huge sums, it is not because they think they have a chance of winning the lawsuit. It’s because they know if they go to trial they will lose.
Just this past month the mayor’s rescission of a police officer’s suspension has dominated the news, and the outcry about her actions were justifiable. However, perhaps the most disturbing part of the story has been totally overlooked.
While the primary focus has been on the mayor’s actions, the most disturbing part of the story, to my way of thinking, was the lack of properly functioning equipment in the police cruisers involved in the incident.
Go back and read the newspaper article. Only one cruisers’ camera equipment was working properly, and the same problem was identified with radar units. In effect, this mayor has compromised the safety of our citizens and our police officers by failing to put enough money into the budget ensure their equipment is working properly.
This problem exists in virtually every city agency. In fact, less than two months ago the city fire department had to borrow fire engines from Lexington and Scott County just to maintain fire protection within the city limits because our equipment wasn’t working properly.
I could go on and on with these examples, but I don’t think it is necessary. Everybody in this room knows it time for us to work together to save the community we live in.
So, I have asked you folks to join me here tonight to announce that I intend on running for mayor in 2010.
I’m not going to stand up here and tell you that I was perfect when I was mayor, because I wasn’t. But I will tell you that every decision I made, every action I took, was because I thought it was in the best interest of Georgetown.
Anyone who has ever run an election campaign knows that it takes an incredible amount of work, and I need everyone in this room to help in my campaign.
If you haven’t already done so please take time to fill out a volunteer card at the back table. I need people to help me campaign, host receptions in your homes, visit your neighbors, and do all the little things it takes to win an election.
And, it’s probably no surprise to you that I will need your help in raising funds to pay for this campaign. There is also a donation card at the back table if you feel inclined to do so tonight.
The most important message I can leave with you tonight is that we must all work together to win this election.
Throughout the next year when you’re talking with your neighbors or a friend, tell them how important it is for their future and the community’s future to restore leadership in Georgetown. Let them know we need their help and their vote.
Folks, I’ve talked enough. Let me thank each of you again for being with me tonight.
With your help, we’ll be successful in this effort.
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