"Your Endorsement is All That Matters"

I have been really struck this election cycle by the effort and money being spent by Ellen McAlpine and her "We Unite Cary" slate. I don't know how much as been spent by this group, but this is not typical of a Village Board election. From a slick website, to fliers, mailers, and signs everywhere to a podcast that began several weeks ago. And, they have enlisted the help of ex-Cary officials for a slew of endorsements that really is nothing more than a desperate attempt to cover up the mediocrity that has been the status quo of the Cary Village Board.

I have said this before: in regard to the Meyer Material fiasco, Jim and Kim have been stellar in their attempt to hold Meyer accountable. They sought out residents, they listened to the history of the pit.  And they fought to make it right by the residents of Fox Trails.

What did McAlpine and most of those people she has enlisted to provide "endorsements" for herself and her slate do about the Meyer situation? They rolled over. They gave Meyer time. They even over-turned the rules about resubmitting an application by a petitioner after being voted down by the zoning board. As a result, Meyer got a second chance at presenting to the board their reasons for wanting an extension. And guess who voted for overturning that rule for Meyer? It wasn't Covelli or Cosler.  And then, McAlpine gushed about how "great" Meyer Material was to the Village of Cary.

Give me a break.

Kim and Jim have been instrumental in holding Meyer material to the deal. They have been instrumental in eliciting feedback from residents. They take their jobs very seriously and have agonized over decisions but ultimately made those decisions based on the promises that they made and the feedback they received.



And the "We Unite Cary" crowd has been going on and on about how Kim and Jim said no to a $60,000 anonymous donation to the Village. They even made a video, describing Kim and Jim as the "party of no." Kim and Jim acknowledged that the donation was generous but, in the end, did the right thing:  when you stand up for transparency, anonymity is wrought with potential problems. There was no other answer but no.

And anyone who believes in the integrity of government would agree.

And that's what Kim and Jim bring to the Village Board:

Integrity.

A belief that the residents have a voice.

And an unwavering belief in standing up for what is right, even when they know that others will use it to tear them down.

That is leadership.

And that is why they deserve our vote on April 2.