What is a mayor? What do I want for a mayor? What is essential for a mayor? What makes a mayor successful? These are all the things I and anyone need to ask when considering such matters.

You are more than aware of why I choose not to endorse Kim Maggard for re-election but, you may ask, why do I then choose to endorse Leslie LaCorte? There are several reasons but one of the chief ones is her character. I’ve known Leslie since she was a whippersnapper in her cheerleading outfit at Whitehall-Yearling. I worked in the Bicentennial Summer at Orton Davis Park under the direction of her Father, John LaCorte. I knew her sister Amy from school who was a character everyone loved even then. Leslie and I had a class or two together but didn’t hang out in the same circles and so had a passing acquaintance. I did notice her strong personality and liked it about her. When I returned to Whitehall in 2008, I saw her at the Park at some event and we talked. She was a little forlorn how Whitehall had changed and she had a real connection in her heart to that. I knew Whitehall was going through changes but was glad she was there to help it in that and glad I was here to help if I could.

In the last six years I’ve watched her in council, how she was treated unfairly and how she reacted to that. I think she showed class and restraint in her reactions and that elevated her in my mind even more. Every time she was at the committee table her concerns were ‘the citizens’, I’ve heard that phrase and concern innumerable times from her. She always wanted what was best for them and I believed her because it was heartfelt, you could see it was true. She does care and she does want what is best for this city. Even when it meant agreeing with people when it wasn’t or wouldn’t be politically expedient. Why, because she’s a decent human being. Sometimes we agree and sometimes we don’t. It is the duplicitous character who makes calculating choices for the benefit of their political career that you must watch out for. Leslie is not like that. If you say something smart or have something good and right for the best overall outcome, she will heartily agree and lend her support, no matter who you are. That’s because she’s a good human being first, a political player second. I admire the hell out of that. Her eager and sincere efforts for the citizens and her principals in the movement of those efforts are admirable and bedrock. My admiration for her, whether we agree or not (and we have) holds out because she is always principaled and ethical. Simply said, I trust her to always do the right thing because she has actually proven herself to be trustworthy. With Leslie those are not simply words printed on a cardboard sign.

As you may have gathered by my writings, these traits are everything to me, given to me from my dear and kind gentleman of a Grandfather, to my dear-hearted sweet Mother. People may do things which aren’t the best or they may make mistakes or slip up as human beings, the same things Kim Maggard has done as a person, but it is what lies underneath that ultimately adds up in the final analysis. If there is treachery underneath and one mucks things up, I have much less understanding for that than I do for someone who’s trying with earnest goodwill and doesn’t always succeed in their efforts. That is Leslie LaCorte, and that is priceless.

A Mayor can be many things, some have the education and experience to do such a job (Kim Maggard didn’t have experience being a mayor before she took the job. If a girl from Kentucky can do it, why not a girl born and raised here?) and then there are the stories you read where an 18-year old has won the mayorality of some town somewhere in America. I’m quite sure DSCC runs itself and its Federal government level of administration doesn’t much need the administration a small town mayor may want to bring to it. Outside of that, it is a small town and its needs are finite. I have found Leslie a capable and bright person and if she actually hires people and surrounds herself with the best applicants our money can afford (instead of friends and cronies who sometimes lack the necessary education for the positions), seeks their best counsel and uses that sensible head of hers, Whitehall will be fine. The rest, like Kim Maggard herself learned four years ago, is on a learning curve. Plus, along with that, you get someone that is citizen-centric, not government-centric. That’s important.

Years ago John Bishop ran things and all was well and things got done. Within that, the citizens were free to go about their lives in a civic-oriented fashion with stuff for kids and adults alike. When there aren’t problems overshadowing those things, people are freer to enjoy that relaxed level of activity. With the police backing her and her desire to actually get tough on crime, I think we can see that again on the horizon for Whitehall. Coming together as a community and taking part in a society we all share here in Whitehall can be our future and is an intrinsic part of Leslie’s makeup. She really does want this to be a people-oriented community, as do I. Its where our gold lies.

During this election season, where we’ve went from Winter to Spring to Summer to Autumn, I have given weighty consideration to why I didn’t want Kim Maggard running things here in Whitehall and I have spelled those out exhaustively, but I also considered Leslie in those moments too and truly, I have a very good gut-feeling about Leslie. I believe wholeheartedly that she will be there for the people and if its the people who make a town what it is (not the businesses)and their worth and gold is mined and celebrated and supported by the government for them, I believe you won’t be able to help but see a transition and rise occur. To me thats exciting and I feel the citizens need and are ready for such a leader. That is why I’m voting for Leslie LaCorte tomorrow, November 3rd. I hope you’ll join me in that endeavor. Thank-you.