Now comes again the current GOP candidate for mayor – the former GOP mayor’s former front man – professing people should “vote for the person, not the party”.
Of course people should vote for the person not the party. But if the person has spent nearly his entire adult working life as a political appointee, and party insider, is that the person for whom people should vote? If the person is pretending to champion causes that only a short time ago he and his political sponsors were mocking as the product of mental illness, is that the person for whom people should vote? If the person is pretending to be someone he is not, is that the person for whom the people should vote?
Four years ago, Binghamton’s rank and file Republicans were had by city GOP leaders. They cynically chose to allow their rank and file to go to the polls thinking a vote for the GOP candidate was a vote to stop Matt Ryan, when it was actually a vote to elect Matt Ryan. Did the former GOP mayor and his former front man stand up and try to alert unsuspecting rank and file GOP voters? They did not. Why?
They knew their candidate couldn’t win, but it didn’t matter to them. It didn’t really matter regular people, including many Republicans would suffer, because they knew Matt Ryan wouldn’t really change things, aside from the beneficiaries of the patronage swag. They knew if I won, it was all over. They knew that I meant the things I said, that I could not be bought, because I was not for sale, and that they could never own me. So they decided it would be better to have Matt, and just wait it out, until their turn came again to control things in the manner to which they had become accustomed. What they considered the party’s interest came first; politics before policy.
This year they know their candidate is all about politics before policy, just their kind of guy. They know when he came to Binghamton ten years ago, he was no champion of “back to basics” government. They know he joined in with the clique heaping mockery upon people like me advocating a back to basics approach, he joined in with those calling us mentally defective alarmists, and “negative”. They know he is posing as a “back to basics” advocate, because they saw how the message resonated in ’05, and now would like to palm it off as their own to regain power. They know he is no “businessman”, and have concocted, contrived, and slickly packaged him as such in an effort to deceive unknowing members of the electorate.
The real question is, how many city Republicans will stand up, and say no to this latest shameless fraud being perpetrated upon them? Will they be had again? Or will they free themselves from the stranglehold of such cynical, thoroughly dishonest and corrupt leadership?
I urge all rank and file city Republicans to see the truth. The former mayor and his former front man care nothing about you or your interests. The only beneficiaries from their return to power would be a small circle of relatives, friends and allies, just like when they last held power.
The truth is as it was in 2005. There are only two people that can win this race, Matt Ryan, or me. They know it, and are willing to sacrifice your votes, and your best interests, to suit their political interests, and what they see as their party’s interests. They are ready to wait another four years, just so the spoils system that sustains their brand of politics survives. Is that what you really want?
If you believe things are alright as they are, choices are there for you. But if you recognize things need to change, and that your party leaders like the former mayor and his former front man will never change them, there is only one choice. Stand up and make it happen.
Our last official task as residents of the City of Binghamton will be to vote Douglas into office of Mayor of Binghamton on November 3 before our address changes for good. To Douglas, Mrs. Drazen and Baby Drazen it will be good to have a family man back in charge of the City of Binghamton. Since we will continue to shop in Binghamton it will be pleasing to have safe city streets back where we can feel free to walk in the downtown area without getting accosted. Even though we will no longer be residents of the City we look forward to the positive changes Douglas will bring to the area. Its about time this city gets back on track. Best of Luck to you Douglas and we will see you around in the future Mr. Mayor.
Thanks Judy. Spread the word. We are not a big budget, slickly packaged, ad driven campaign, like the other guys. We rely on word of mouth and people power. With your help, our people power will defeat their purchasing power.http://drazenformayor.com/wp-admin/edit-comments.php?comment_status=moderated#comments-form