Jenkins leads a strong trio for Terre Haute

FLASHPOINT: The Terre Haute City Primary Election 2003
Tribune-Star
Opinion by Patrick Titzer
May 2, 2003

The rhetoric this political season has certainly thickened recently, with the high ground apparently a lack of political experience or visible connections to any known political "machine." Unfortunately, that is a bit of a pathetic fallacy in that anyone who raises $30,000 or $40,000 in this town has to have some connections and, consequently, often invisible obligations whether they acknowledge them or not.

The question is how important is it, relative to a potential officeholder's ability to think, to state in clear terms what they are thinking, and then formulate a plan to implement those ideas? Besides, a certain familiarity with how the system works and a bit of a power base is necessary in order to be effective as a leader in four short years.

Having said that, I would like to recommend my preferences for office:

I think Jim Jenkins should be our mayor again, because he brings experience and a wisdom you can only gain through adversity, such as he faced in his turnout four years ago. He has stated clearly -- specifically -- what his ideas are and he does not speak in the platitudes the others are so fond of when they are not sniping. He is a proven leader who has served effectively in many capacities. He has spent the years since his last term working feverishly to prepare himself for the leadership role again, and he is ready!

For my District 4 City Council seat, I recommend Todd Nation, a citizen who has probably attended and spoken effectively at more committee and council meetings than many sitting councilpersons. He brings leadership experience and proven dedication through his active involvement in issues that face the city at large, although he has been most visibly active in his home district. He is a thinker who will vote his conscience, and a man to whom we can look to for leadership today and into the future.

For at least one of the council at-large seats, I look to the continued leadership of Cliff Lambert. His record of thoughtful, independent action speaks for itself, and his accessibility has surpassed all other councilpersons sitting today. When I have a question about how our city is being run, he does not hesitate to offer a candid perspective to clarify the issues and explain his and the other possible positions.

I look to Jim Jenkins, Todd Nation and Cliff Lambert for their individual visions of the future, not because they all have the same black-and-white simplifications of important challenges facing this community. They will not always vote together, and I have seen their opinions differ on issues when even I disagree. But they bring intelligence, a genuine concern for their fellow citizens, and a desire to serve and carve out a path to make this city great again

I know that when it comes down to it, they will make the best decisions for this city.

Please share your votes with them.