Mayor William Stortz sent out this press release a little while ago:
Bristol, CT, July 16, 2007 - In a prepared release, Mayor William Stortz commented on the progress being made in appointing minorities to City boards, and also, the increased numbers of women that have been appointed; many to key boards.
Said Stortz, “Early on in my administration, we committed to appointing more minorities, more young people, and more women. I am proud to say we have made significant progress in all areas, but do have a way to go.
I recall a news article from mid-June 2005 where the dearth of women on City boards was reported on. That is being changed, month by month.”
Stortz went on to say, “Since I took office, a woman has been appointed to the Board of Water Commissioners, first time, a woman to the Board of Public Works, first time, and there are now three women on the Board of Park Commissioners, plus the City Council Liaison.
We now have two women on the Board of Finance and a woman serving on the Parking Authority.
I am proud to say that these women, and all others, are doing an outstanding job.”
“At the same time, we have approximately tripled the members of minorities serving, including some on major boards. The Board of Ethics, Board of Park Commissioners, and the Board of Library Commissioners all have minority women. Minorities are also now represented on the Commission for Persons with Disabilities, Board of Community Services, Youth Commission, and a Native American is now on the Zoning Board of Appeals”, said Stortz.
“While we still have a way to go to have a proper balance and representation, I am proud of the progress that has been made. Some have volunteered on their own, some have been suggested by Council members, some I recruited. But, they all are doing an outstanding job.
On the Commission for Persons with Disabilities, we now have a young woman with medical background and involved in the Special Olympics, as well as a new member who is visually challenged. We do need to be able to understand the needs of others”, continued Stortz.
Stortz concluded, “Hopefully, this type of progress will continue: and efforts will be made to cast a wide net, and to reach more of the minority community, more youth of the City, and certainly to welcome more women.
We do want the best and the brightest to be part of Bristol, and to help us move forward, but color, gender and age should not be a restriction.
The first big steps have been taken, and the results justify continuing in this direction.”
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Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
2 comments:
If he isn't running again, why is he campaigning with press releases like this one?
After years of Stortz playing games with words, I have to wonder if the final sentence in his "Stortz not running" speech has another meaning - an open endedness if you will. His statement is "I am today announcing that I will not be seeking the Republican nomination for Mayor.”
So he isn't seeking the republican nomination, but that doesn't say that he isn't running. I hate to sound parinoid, but he is the master at word games.
I agree. It's very fishy. I'd give the chances of him running at this point at least 50/50.
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