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List, I was asked by a supporter of Dan Niziolek's City Council opponent how I can support Dan on the basis of his experience, but seemingly ignore that as a criteria in the Mayor's race. Clearly there are different types of experience. Perhaps I am being presumptuous but very few people want their next mayor or council member to have no experience. There are different types of experience. There is professional experience: how has the candidate's professional life prepared them for the challenges of serving? How have they developed the skills necessary to lead and to serve? If they have held elected office before, what does that say about how they will serve in the future? If they have not held elected office before, how transferable are the skills that they have developed? There is community experience: how has the candidate's volunteer time in the community connected them with the people whom they will be asked to represent? What are their relationships? What have they accomplished as a community volunteer? And for some, like me, there is the issue of personal experience: How has the person lived their lives? How does their personal life reflect a congruity between what they advocate and what they do. For me a person who speaks of community involvement, but finds every excuse for never showing up lacks personal experience. I support RT because I believe that his professional, community and personal experience make it most likely that he will be able to accomplish forward movement on the issues of affordable housing and community development. I support Dan Niziolek because I believe that his outstanding award-studded professional resume is overshadowed only by the depth of his decade of proven experience working directly with the residents and neighborhoods of the 10th ward as a volunteer.
Sincerely, Joseph Barisonzi |
