Council President Sweeney, my colleagues, residents of Ward 7 and the citizens of Cleveland – as I assume the duties of office, I fully comprehend that I’m standing upon the shoulders of one of the most noble champions the City of Cleveland ever had: Fannie M. Lewis. The woman I once worked for left some big shoes to fill, and with God’s grace and help, I pray that I will be able to fill them in a manner in which she would be proud.
If I were to being listing all of the people who worked so hard to enable me to be standing here tonight, it would take all of my allotted time and I would surely miss someone of importance. So, instead, I will just give heartfelt thanks to everyone – each of you knows what you did.
It’s with a deep sense of reverence, respect and resolve that I take my seat as the representative of my constituents on this august Council. The residents of my community have found me fit to serve as their Councilperson and I am humbled by the trust they have placed in me. I will strive every day and in every way to justify their faith in my abilities.
I fully realize that close to half of the voters cast their ballot for my very worthy opponent Stephanie Howse. And when I say “worthy,” I sincerely mean it. She is every bit as dedicated to Ward 7 as I am and I hope that she, and the votes who cast their ballots for her, will join me in moving the Ward forward. I hope to earn their respect.
By their votes, the residents of Ward 7 have made it known that they want to, and indeed intend to, control the affairs of their community. They’ve informed me – in no uncertain terms – that I am only their spokesperson in these hallowed halls; they are, and will remain, the final arbiters in matters of importance regarding the Ward. I can only do their will – what they instruct me to do – no more and no less.
Ward 7, similar to the rest of Cleveland, and indeed the region and the nation, faces challenges. But issues of public safety, the welfare of our seniors, the education or our children, the employment of those willing and ready to word and the progress and the development of our Ward have to be viewed for what they are: opportunities to do better.
Cleveland, like many other Midwest urban centers, has been down on itself; oftentimes for reasons beyond its control. Some decry the perceived lack of local leadership, while others point toward Washington and the fact that, with only a brief person of exception, little attention has been paid to the plight of urban areas.
The one thing we can do as a City, that doesn’t make any money, is to become more inclusive, to allow everyone a seat at the decision-making table. To equally and fairly embrace all of our citizens – men, women, all races and nationalities, gay and straight and also the thousands upon thousands who can’t find work because of a felony conviction. We simply must stop discriminating.
The recent national elections have unleashed a new, buoyant spirit in America; I feel it everywhere I travel within my Ward and the City at-large. An opportunity for real change will soon be emanating from Washington DC, but it’s up to us, here, at the local grassroots level, to capture the spirit of that change, harness it and being to address the multitude of challenges we face as a nation. We have a lot to do; the future awaits us; and we in Ward 7 are ready to roll up our sleeves and get busy. Together, with the rest of the citizens of Cleveland, we can bring about positive change.