And Then There Were 14

John T. Walker has withdrawn from the race for CD2 to replace Wendy Greuel. This takes us down to 14 potential candidates in a amazingly crowded field. Here is the letter he sent out explaining his reasons for withdrawing and what he hopes to see from the next CD2 representative.

Dear Friends and Fellow Stakeholders:

I have spent these past few weeks, exploring the (real) possibilities of entering this City Council race. I’ve had the experience of being able to speak with most, if not all of our community leaders. To sit down with several of our elected officials and a number of business owners. In fact, I got calls and emails from people I did not know at all and they all urged me to run – with the same mantra. “YOU CAN WIN”!

The magnitude of calls and emails has been both astounding and humbling to me. I just never had any idea that my community thought of me in this way. It’s a remarkable feeling and extremely rewarding on a very personal level.

Now, having said that, I think this job must include a (real) passion, desire and the potential to commit, to over 13 years to an office. You cannot work 16 hour days, 6-7 days per week without those qualities or you will not be effective and you would be doing an injustice to those who put you if office.

I’ve made many new friends and political allies. I’ve listened to those that I have been with. I’ve heard the issues from different perspectives – from the homeowner, to the retiree. The young couple just getting started and the small business owner and not surprisingly, all the issues start off singularly, but they eventually all end up in the same funnel and come out with the same purpose:

(1) FIX OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, (2) EMPOWERMENT TO THE
PEOPLE, (3) MANDATE MITIGATIONS BEFORE ANY DEVELOPMENT IS ALLOWED, (4) BE IN CONTROL OF OUR MONEY and finally (5) A LINE OF RESPONSIBILITY – WHERE DOES THE BUCK STOP – WHO IS RESPONSIBLE – WHO IS IDENTIFIABLE?

One of my goals if elected was to have established a CD2 SWITCHBOARD. This would allow callers to speak to a live person, ask a question, ask for assistance, file a complaint – something that would give each of us in our community the right to immediate access to our representatives. Those calls would have been put together in my office and given to me on a prioritized list. Part of my everyday process would have been to (personally) make two return calls myself, daily and to also have daily briefings where that LIST of callers is part of what would become my COMMUNITY MORNING AGENDA and assign representatives to respond to all callers and then, report back to me. Working with our local colleges, and offering internships in exchange for credits would have covered the staffing issues. I would still like to implement this plan and hope that our next CD2 representative understands the importance of involvement.

I have found that for all of us, not feeling like we are part of the system makes most of us step away and not want to get involved! That does not make for a stronger community. It’s up to us, (and our elected officials) to create a more user friendly system.

One where EVERYONE FEELS INVOLVED, WHERE EVERYONE HAS A VOICE. I found, during my exploration for this office that these and several other issues are the things that my community would like to have happen – and if I am not going to be the candidate, I will work hard with that Councilperson to help bring these issues to reality – and that by doing this, our Councilperson understands that the stakeholders are involved, hopefully giving our Councilperson strength and empowerment when sitting in City Council.

Because I am a single Father and because one of my children lives with a disability – and has asked me not to run, I had to make a choice – and of course, that wasn’t hard to do. So it is with mixed feelings that I say Thank You – Thank You for even thinking of me in this capacity.

I will still be involved – and I want all of you to be as well. WE can make a real difference in this election. A difference that could and will affect the lives of all of us in CD2, perhaps forever!

Let’s make it clear what we expect! Let’s offer up a Mandate to our next Councilperson and make it clear, we are 100% with you – as long as you don’t lose sight of the goal! Let’s not let this one slip away! Let’s control this election so that our next Councilperson KNOWS WHOM THEY REPRESENT!

Let’s make it clear!

Thank you all, very, very much.
Best Regards,
John T. Walker