Originally Posted by
MaddMatt
Lee,
We have met once or twice and I appreciate your input. Thank you for taking the time to respond and share your opinions. Unfortunately, you didn't really ask me any questions but I will try to interject my opinion where applicable.
"You’re telling us that a party that eats its young for thinking independently in the past year (Thill) is going to let you run free and independent rings hollow."
Um, I don't know about eating of their young but yes, I am running free and independent as are my running mates: Dawn, Johanna and Diane. If not, wouldn't they have prohibited me from starting this thread?
But you want us to believe that the DEMS are so enthralled with your qualifications that were willing to not fill Aquino’s vacant seat on an interim basis but because they wanted to support you, this ‘neutral candidate at election time. Really, or did they not fill the seat, as is their right, because they have been known to play the ‘incumbent’ game to extremes and where they will still control the town board by a 3-1 margin.
I had conversations with people from both parties about filling the seat. Everyone seemed to agree that the Dems were in a no win situation: Fill the seat and they are accused of trying to stack the board and run an incumbent. Leave it blank and they are accused of playing games for political gain. As for the motivations of everyone involved, I can't speak for them; I can only give you my side of the story.
You professed your interest in running for a political position for some time. Did you express that interest to the Republican Party at any time? To other parties? The DEMS just picked you because they wanted a free-thinking, independent candidate. It took a long time for endorsement to come to fruition because the DEMS were bankrupt for credible insider candidates.
I have talked to both Republicans and Democrats, as well as other party lines in the past. It's not my place to say why I was chosen by one party and not others. I am overjoyed to represent the Democrats and this new direction many here seem to think they are taking. I am proud of the last 4 budgets they put forth and the way they have served their community. I hope to continue that tradition while bringing some new ideas to the table as well. As for the time it took for the endorsement, I can relay that they interviewed a number of qualified candidates, myself included, and took their time to make sure they had a slate that could win and take the party forward.
As for the airport debate, I am in the process of reading the threads on here, as well as all the newspaper articles I can find. I'll be happy to give you my opinion once I have a solid basis for one. This is the same way I will approach any subject if I am elected.
Thank you all for the questions.
Matt Walter