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President Calls for
1/2/04 South Lawrence East School I just want to take a moment to thank all of you for your support and for placing your trust in me with this awesome responsibility. I'm humbled by this tonight, but consider myself ready, willing and able to accept this challenge. Last month, we were elected to serve various districts, some of us to represent the entire city, but let us all remember that the nine of us here tonight represent all Lawrencians. Our diversity represents a mirror image of Lawrence's past, present, and future. We must be a united voice in City Hall and a strong team for our City. For the past two months much has been said about who will be in what position when the new council gets sworn in. I'm often reminded of a quote from former president Theodore Roosevelt who said: "We are a nation of many nationalities, many races, many religions, bound together any a single unit of freedom and equality. Whoever seeks to set one nationality against another seeks to degrade all nationalities." Councilors, I pledge to you, to all of you, fair and open debate, professional dialogue in a respectful and courteous manner. Though we may not always agree, your voices will be heard. I also challenge all of you to hold one principal higher than all else - personal integrity. Our word is our bond, and often times in politics that is all we have. But personal integrity can never be vetoed or gaveled out of order, it's the most important value we have. Thank You, Patrick
Blanchette, City Council President |
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