“LaPorte has gone for too long without leadership, and the effects are seen and felt by those who have spent a lifetime in this community and those only visiting for an afternoon. For too long we’ve had to settle and accept our city’s decline as inevitable. Today we turn the page on that chapter in our history. Today we say LaPorte can and will rise again.
“To do so, we must create an environment where businesses can develop and grow, with new kinds of jobs established. Today we must create an environment that helps workers achieve the skills and qualifications they need to succeed and sets the example for the importance of hard work.
”We must address a crippling drug problem that is strangling our workforce and making some neighborhoods too dangerous to even walk in after dark. And while we continue to face a cash flow problem in the aftermath of the tax assessment dispute, we must make decisions only after reviewing ALL possible solutions and communicating regularly throughout that process.
“It won’t be easy. That’s why we’ll have to set priorities. We’ll have to make hard choices. And it is with this knowledge and enthusiasm for a better future that I announce my candidacy for mayor.
“No individual can presume to have all the solutions to these problems. As an officer in the Navy for the past six years I’ve led over 1,200 Sailors and Marines in combat zones off the coasts of Iraq and Pakistan. I have managed the budget of a $10 billion dollar Navy shipbuilding program. I have stood the watch responsible for bringing a ship of 330 Sailors into harm’s way. In all of these situations, leadership was crucial but useless without a team who worked together. And while I am dedicated to the full-time commitment of leading this community, that is why this campaign can’t only be about me. It must be about us — it must be about what we can do together. This campaign must be the occasion, the vehicle, of what you believe LaPorte can be. It will take your vote, your time, your energy, and your advice, to push us forward when we’re doing right, and to let us know when we’re not. We will do what is hard; we will achieve what is great.
“Together, starting today, let’s open the door to possibility and opportunity. Let’s lay the foundation for a new LaPorte that adapts and overcomes for progress in good times and in bad.
“Thank you very much for joining me today and I can’t wait for us to get started!”
Milo listens to a question posed by B&J’s owner John Pappas. (Click to enlarge)
John Benson — March 31, 2011 @ 9:21 am
Blair, I salute you and your team as you charge into the race. I’m really impressed to see what you’re up to. Godspeed. I know LaPorte will be better for it. Sincerely, John Benson
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Stephanie Terry — May 7, 2011 @ 8:39 am
I can appreciate that you are discouraged by the cutback in government wages and the increase in healthcare,and the lack of the current government to stay on a budget, but my healthcare too increased and unfortunately a result of a democratic government federally. I’m not interested in why government has been mismanaged, I want to know what you are going to do for non government workers of this community? What I would like to see in this community is people enjoying clean parks, small business being re-established, and young people being involved and taking ownership of their futures as well as the future of their community; with the regrowth of the community. This means negotiating with big business to bring tax dollars back to the community. A balance needs to be brought back in to the fold, so that we can afford to make the improvements to the city to give children a place to feel secure, and an opportunity to do something besides drugs; give people a reason to live here. The business owners who have been in this community struggle with current city management. Buildings are left vacant because we want the “right” tenant or have different ideas for what we might want done with the property. I get it….but business brings tax dollars and tax dollars in turn provide dollars to build and improve the community so that it can be enjoyed and utilized by our youth. The youth is the future of the city and if you have no reason to keep them here, they will never stay. Parent influence and accountability to a safe, healthy community is the responsibility of the parents, as well as community and starts early. This is a lifestyle in a community and not built overnight but over a generation, it has to start somewhere. Kids have nothing else to do here but drugs. We have parks that are littered with trash,no bike paths, kids who are not even able to build a snowman in a school yard. People are unhealth, and parents are rarely seen outside enjoying this great community that we share!! There is no sense of community and it is sad when this area has so much to offer and could be really quaint and enjoyable. Granted I have only been here for a short time, but when my child ask me why there is trash everywhere and why the beach has no sand?? I have to wonder why leadership has not encouraged clean, business attracting benifits that we all have before us and yet fail to appreciate?
Sincerely,
Stephanie Terry
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