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Battle for Berea - Essay posted -- Malott for Mayor
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rjak-@sbcglobal.net
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Oct 10, 2007 17:15 PDT
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To Richard Malott & all blind courtesy copy (bcc:) recipients:
I have posted my endorsement of Dik's candidacy for Mayor of Berea at my
web site. Malott for Mayor can be viewed at:
www.emmeffemm.com/id101.html .
My wife (Pamela Hardman) and I find Dik to be overwhelmingly the best
choice to serve as Berea's next mayor. For the town's sake, we hope a
majority of our fellow Bereans agree.
--Mike Murray
Opinion
Berea Bits: 8 October 2007
Malott for Mayor
Only one person running for mayor has ever held elective office in our
town.
That’s a pretty startling fact. Think about it for a moment. Consider
its significance. Only one person in this year’s race has ever before
served as an elected official. That person is Dik Malott. When others
speak of “experience,” remember that none of them has ever represented a
single resident of Berea – for even a single day.
In fact, only one of the candidates in this race has ever before even
bothered to put himself before voters for their consideration. Again,
that person is Dik Malott. Malott has asked residents to decide, time
and again, if we believe him worthy to represent us. And time after
time, we Bereans have answered “yes.”
Dik Malott is the most qualified candidate in the race.
Malott has represented our town – as an elected official – for many
years. A victor in numerous citywide elections, he served first as an
at-large Councilman, and then as City Council President. There is no
better preparation for the top elected position than that.
Dik Malott achieved his governmental jobs the old-fashioned way: he
earned them.
Malott gained his superior knowledge and experience in the ways of
Berea’s governance in the most legitimate way possible: by letting the
voters decide his worthiness for office. He was not the beneficiary of
privilege; he did not attain government employment by way of political
connection.
Dik Malott’s motives are above reproach.
Malott has truly been a servant of the interests of Berea, not his own.
In his roles as Councilman and City Council President, he has received
only modest compensation. He has never sought princely sums from
Berea’s taxpayers. For Malott, it has never been “about the Benjamins.”
It has been about service to his town.
Dik Malott is quietly compassionate.
Malott was the first candidate in this race to announce that – should he
be elected mayor – he would decline part of his compensation in order to
fund a scholarship for Berea High School students. Malott’s generosity
is genuine. It is not a calculated attempt at projecting altruism, it
is not an effort to curry favor with voters. Malott does good for
good’s sake, not to gain public acknowledgement or to further his
political career. Malott’s benevolence is not self-promotion fodder for
campaign literature.
Dik Malott is a person we know and trust.
Malott is a thoroughly decent person. As can be said of very few
politicians these days, he is possessed of impeccable character. His
motives are above reproach. He is as honest and sincere as the day is
long. He is not the front man for powerful local and county interests;
he is not looking to use the mayor’s job as a stepping stone to greater
political opportunity.
Dik Malott is overwhelmingly the best choice for mayor.
Malott is the most knowledgeable and experienced candidate in the race,
and he possesses the greatest degree of integrity. Among those running
to be Berea’s next mayor, he is uniquely qualified to lead. He has
unselfishly served for years. He is thoroughly prepared for the job.
With Dik Malott, what you see is what you get. (And what you get is
good.)
For my wife and for me, the decision is easy. When we look over the
crop of hopefuls on the November ballot, the choice is clear. It is
Malott – by a mile.
We Bereans have trusted Dik Malott to participate in the management our
town’s public affairs for years. He has come before us many times for
consideration; he has repeatedly let us decide his worthiness for
office.
We have always before answered in the affirmative. At this critical
moment in Berea’s history, we need to say “yes” one more time. We need
to place the stewardship of Berea’s governmental affairs in his capable,
trustworthy hands. I urge you to go to your polling place on November
6th and mark your ballot for Dik Malott.
It is not for his sake that I ask you to vote for Malott; it is for
Berea’s.
Copyright ©2007 Michael F. Murray All rights reserved.
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