Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Business Journal----
This morning At-Large Charlotte City Council Member John Lassiter will officially file for the Mayor's seat.
As I've stated in previous posts, I still believe he would be the best leadership choice for Charlotte's future however....
If Lassiter expects to win he needs to gird up his loins in these 5 vital areas:
1) Please hire a NEW Campaign Manager for heaven's sake! One who possesses a Strong Drive for Victory. One who REALLY knows and Understands the world of Big City Politics.
No offense but whomever has been advising him thus far must surely be in secret alliance with his opponent At-Large Charlotte City Council Member Anthony Foxx, because for the most part they've been guiding Lassiter straight to the Loser's Corner.
2) Stop letting his opponent At-Large City Council Member Anthony Foxx outshine him at speaking events.
We know that in the past the Media has painted a picture of Lassiter being a "know-it-all".
However when your running for Mayor and you've earned enough grassroots experience to prove your the best choice, YES! the voters actually prefer you speak up, because that's the correct platform for doing so.
3) Is there anything wrong with Lassiter appearing at Events by himself?
There will be time for Debates with Foxx later.
How do you expect Charlotte's Regular Middle Class, Low-Income, Black and Hispanic Communities to learn who the REAL John Lassiter is if you doesn't get out by yourself and actually WORK those communities?
Just because Foxx is African-American and a Democrat, doesn't mean he owns Charlotte's Black and Hispanic Votes.
Not every Black and Hispanic Democrat is going to vote for Foxx.
Just as Lassiter should not assume that because he's Republican and Caucasian, every Republican, Caucasian constituent is going to automatically vote for him.
Foxx may own Charlotte's Elite Black Vote but the rest of us don't know him.
It appears as if Foxx has proven himself to be a Politician for the Cameras, who enjoys rubbing elbows with the Elite because doing so benefits HIM on a personal level. Not because it benefits Charlotte's Black Community, Middle Class or Low-Income community on a personal level.
The days of Politicians and Leaders feeling as though they are ENTITLED to certain things just because they have a good education, went to a certain school, joined certain organizations or contributed to another Politician's campaign coffers are OVER!
Of course we expect our Political Leaders to be Well-qualified and Intelligent! But there is more to being an Effective Leader than just having a couple of College Degrees.
Before Harvard-Educated President Barack Obama became U.S. Senator Obama, he was rubbing elbows with many of Chicago's Middle Income and Poorest citizens. Most of whom were Low-Income African-American and Hispanic.
Which is why when he ran for U.S. Senator, those SAME people remembered what he did for them when he was just a lowly Community Organizer and showed their appreciation at the polls.
Foxx can't truthfully stand up and prove anything he has actually done on a Grassroots Level to help Charlotte's Regular Black Community.
Ex: Education, Small Business, Housing, Fighting Homelessness, Jobs for Youth, Fighting Crime, etc.,
If I am wrong than prove it!
In the mean time when he gets on the campaign trail Foxx needs to show voters what he's actually done in four years while serving on the Charlotte City Council.
(NOTE: Confuscious say, "Its hard to build a house in the storm.")
Just sitting around a City Council Dais casting a few votes here and there, or having the ability to raise large sums of money doesn't mean a Candidate possesses the Sincere Human Interest Experience necessary to know what's best for Charlotte's future or Charlotte's citizens. ALL of them!
Talk is Cheap!
Lassiter, Foxx show Charlotte Voters line by line what you've both done for this Community during your years in Public Office.
NOT just for the Charlotte Uptown crowd but for ALL Charlotteans regardless of their Race, Creed, Income Status, Education, Housing, etc.,
This includes how many e-mails you've actually answered to constituents. ALL Constituents!
Come On! Get Up! Relate to your Constituents. Find Common ground with them.
Gentlemen show us what you've got!
4) Lassiter also needs to utilize Social Networking tools (Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, Blogs,) more and please keep his website updated more frequently.
I have to be Fair and give Foxx Kudos for having accomplished this goal several months ago.
5) When running for Mayor of Charlotte in this Recession there is NO such thing as spreading yourself too thin.
Both Lassiter and Foxx are going to have to reach Charlotte's Wealthiest Citizens, the Middle Class and Charlotte's poorest.
He and Foxx both are going to have to actually earn EVERY vote just as President Obama did.
No Election Board tricks! No Encouraging Straight Ticket Voting! But Honestly Earn EVERY vote.
This means breaking bread with constituents. Not just in some of Charlotte's nicest Restaurants but also at the "Chicken Shacks" in the city's Low-Income areas too.
Charlotteans are tired of Politicians being nothing more than Lying "Seat Warmers".
Using our Tax Dollars to go on Special "Job-Related" Trips, taking care of friends and families and building their Professional/ Political resumes.
We want Community Action!
We need Jobs. Green Jobs, etc.,
We need Homeowner Association Regulation as mandated by North Carolina General Statute 47-F.
We need better, Equal Public Safety.
Equal, Quality Education for ALL of Charlotte's students. In every neighborhood.
We need Neighborhood/ Community Stabilization. What about all those Foreclosed homes attracting vagrants and Gangs? Who's going to address this issue?
We need Economic Development City wide. NOT just Uptown or in the Wealthy areas of Charlotte.
Equal modes of Mass Public Transportation. Ex: Clean, properly functioning City buses for ALL Charlotteans to ride, expanded Light Rail and Street Cars.
We need nice places for ALL of Charlotte's Children to play for Creative, Constructive outlet, versus just wanting to throw the African-American and Hispanic Youth in jail.
We need Equal Taxation in the areas of Business Licenses, Property Taxes, Storm Water Rates, etc.,
We want Real Representation!
We want Our Political Leaders to demonstrate that they Care about ALL of Charlotte-Mecklenburg's citizens, NOT just those individuals within their Socio-Economic groups or within their Fraternities and Sororities.
If Lassiter expects to wins he needs to rebuild his entire campaign and include some of the suggestions mentioned above.
Despite some of the negative criticism, Mayor Pat McCrory (R) was an Effective Political Leader because prior to his being in Public Office, Charlotte was a city going no where.
Now Charlotte's on the tip of every one's tongue.
However a New Legacy must begin.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg needs an Effective, Qualified Mayor who isn't CORRUPT and has the chops to lead our Community out of this Recession mess successfully as possible.
The $64 Million Dollar question remains is can we trust you?
If we can't TRUST you, then we certainly don't want you running our city.
Foxx plans to officially file tomorrow.
May the Best Mayoral Candidate for Charlotte win but only if he wants it bad enough!
LASSITER'S OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT:
CHARLOTTE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER JOHN LASSITER
TO FILE FOR MAYORAL BID:
Small business owner and Attorney John Lassiter, currently serving in his third term as an at-large member of the Charlotte City Council, will take his record of experience and proven leadership in both the public and private sectors to Charlotte voters this fall. Mr. Lassiter will hold a press conference tomorrow as he files for the City of Charlotte Mayoral race.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
11:00AM
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Elections
741 Kenilworth Ave # 202
Charlotte, NC 28204-2897
Thank you for your support!
www.votelassiter.com
Paid for by the John Lassiter for Mayor Committee
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Sources: votelassiter.com, anthonyfoxx.com , Charlotte Business Journal, Charlotte Observer, Charmeck.org, Google Maps
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