Why?

I was asked today to make a brief statement about why I am running for District 3 City Commissioner. Obviously, it one of the most common questions a candidate receives. My brief reply is, "I want to be a voice for the average person. We are an average family working to make it from paycheck to paycheck and I think it is time for that demographic to have a voice."

But brief replies are typically so inadequate, as is this one. There is much more to the statement above than a couple of sentences can convey. Here is more of the reason.

13 years ago, we lived in an urban area not far from here. Things were changing, it was too much "city" for this "raised in the country" girl, and I wanted out of there :-).
As we began to look around and consider our options, we looked in many areas. There were perks to a few: convenience, his family, my family. We wanted a good place to raise a family. We chose Griffin. In part to be close to and take care of my husband's father (who passed away in 2004); in part because of the close proximity to Hartsfield (near to which my husband worked at the time); and because it was a small town with opportunity and established neighborhoods and local merchants, and would allow me to be a stay-at-home wife and mom. It was a good choice. I didn't have to return to work until about 2 and a half years ago. God blessed us with the ability to get by on one income far longer than most, but the time finally came when we just couldn't do it anymore. Then He blessed me with two part time jobs I very much enjoy.

Just as we had hoped, Griffin became our hometown. It is the place my boys (ages 13 and 18) have grown up, the place to which they will someday return. It is home. It is our hometown.

One day, about 5 years ago, a friend asked me to attend a city commissioner's meeting regarding a particular issue. My friend said I didn't have to say anything, just needed my presence there to show support for those who would speak. So I went. I didn't say anything. But I did hear something. One of the commissioners, during the meeting, expressed appreciation for our presence but asked where we had been. Where were we when certain other, equally important issues had been before the board? Good question. I took it as a personal challenge. I attended the next meeting...and the next...and the next. I attended the Citizen's Government Academy (I highly recommend it to everyone. It's a lot of great information and the chance to meet other citizens as well as the people who help the City function.) I was asked to serve on a committee. I began attending the workshops to hear more of the discussion behind the decisions. I applied to be appointed to the Historic Preservation Commission. I began to see there was much more to the City's government than the word on the street had it. It really hit me hard how important citizen involvement is. I began to get the courage to speak up and voice an opinion on numerous occasions. I learned more than I ever thought there was to learn about local government. I began to realize I really could have an impact on the future of Griffin. Me, an average citizen; not a wealthy or well-connected person. And I realized there are a great many other average citizens in similar circumstances.

That's whose voice I want to represent. I want to be a part of making Griffin a place my children want to return to. I want them to be able to say, someday down the road, that Mom did what she could, that she made a difference.

Blessings!
Shannon
\o/