Promoting civic engagement is something I’ve been working on for years. Some of my opponents have actually been my partners in that effort. Civic engagement is the foundation of American democracy. It was here in Boston that the desperate desire for full and fair participation in one’s government gave birth to a new nation. It is our responsibility as citizens to be active participants in our democracy. We fulfill that responsibility by being informed, engaged and most of all, by voting.
One of my earliest memories is my mother bringing me into the voting booth. She was a community organizer for the Urban League and taught me at a young age that it is my responsibility and obligation to be an active participant in my community and our democracy.
The four At Large candidates elected in November will play an enormously important role in shaping the future of Boston and addressing the pressing needs of the city’s residents. This year’s At Large field is historic in its diversity and the talent, experience and qualifications of the candidates is extraordinary.
Four At Large City Councilors are going to be elected. I believe it is in everyone’s best interests to learn about the candidates and their platforms and make an informed choice on the four candidates you want to represent you, your family and your community.
I urge you to learn more about me and my candidacy (www.ayannapressley.com) and my opponents as well. And I wouldn’t be a good candidate without asking you to volunteer on Tuesday if you have the time (email info@ayannapressley.com).
But most importantly, please get out and vote. I am asking for one of your four votes. But I’m also asking you to consider using all four of your votes. My mother taught me long ago that a vote is too precious to waste. You have four votes. Please don’t waste them.
…that you would most want to serve with, that you’re willing to share publicly?
I’ve known some of my opponents for years. We’ve worked together on other campaigns, on advancing causes like civic engagement and diversifying the political pipeline and consider many of my “opponents” friends.
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p>Listening to my opponents, watching them in forums, seeing them on the campaign trail, I can’t help but feel really excited that I might (and that’s a BIG might) get the chance to serve with them on the Council. They have solid ideas, great credentials and they do care about this city and its residents.
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p>But they do have different approaches to solving some of the city’s challenges and I’ll leave it to each individual voter to decide which candidates are for them.
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p>Thanks for writing and please get out and vote!
Ayanna
Tito Jackson
John Connolly
and unsure on the fourth.
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p>I will spread the word.
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p>Good Luck Ayanna and nice to hear from you.
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It’s just interesting to me to see appeals from the second-tier candidates for “one of your four votes” instead of for “your vote.” This makes sense, since a candidate who figures he or she isn’t the first choice of too many voters will want to persuade voters not to bullet-vote. Ms. Pressley has made a virtue of necessity by framing this as a matter of good citizenship. I suspect you won’t see the incumbents asking anyone for “one of your four votes.”
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p>Nothing against Ms. Pressley. I just think it’s an interesting tactic.
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p>TedF
I believe the only other person in the race who has raised more money than she has since the beginning of the year is Connolly. You don’t do that if you are “second tier” candidate. She stands a really excellent chance of winning one of the four spots.
Well, that’s interesting! I guess I would say that her post suggests that she thinks she is second-tier. Or perhaps I’m wrong about the whole thing and she really just thinks it’s important for everyone to cast all four votes. But that doesn’t seem to be sensible to me.
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p>TedF