Here are the prepared remarks that city Councilor Ken Cockayne spoke to the Republican Town Committee tonight:
Today I am announcing that I
am running for Mayor of Bristol in 2013.
I am asking for your support in this endeavor and feel I am the right
person at the right time for this job.
I am the senior member of the
Council and have spent the last five years fighting for change and fighting for
you, the taxpayers of Bristol. We are on
the precipice of significant change and new leadership for Bristol. In the last local election, the people of
Bristol spoke and elected leaders to fight for them. Leaders, who are truly, fiscally
conservative, who understand that voters are not ATMs. The sitting Mayor controls the agenda, so
while the voters spoke, loudly and clearly, there is one more crucial
step. We need a mayor that will listen
to the people of Bristol and set an agenda that puts their interests first. We
need a true leader to drive the change that must occur and I believe I am that
type of leader.
I believe I am the right
person at the right time for Bristol. These
will be challenging times. We need someone
who can lead from the front. I have
spent the last five years doing just this.
I have never hid from an issue or avoided one. I have worked steadfastly for the people of
Bristol, even when it met that I stood alone. When we needed change in leadership
with our Police Department, I was the only elected official willing to attach
his name when asking for this change. When
our community was in danger of having no say in group homes for troubled
adolescents moving into established residential neighborhoods, I stepped up
immediately to fight. We wanted a voice for Bristol, and I was that
voice that brought this practice to light.
At times I have been the lone voice of dissent when voting on contracts,
for I refused to be a part of a rubber stamp council. I was voice for the West End, an often
overlooked section of our community, and called for increased police presence
and was an advocate for the formation of the West End Association.
I believe that I am not only
a person who leads from the front, but also the person with the right
experience to do the job well. In the
last five years, I have served on 21 separate boards, including the Bristol
Development Authority, the Bristol Downtown Development Corporation, the Board
of Public Works and the Salary Committee.
I have fought the tough battles and have an intimate understanding of
our municipal government.
These last five years have
been arduous, but the foundation is in place.
The current City Council is ready to work for responsible change to benefit
you, the taxpayer. The next step is to
put a person in the Mayor’s Office who will set an agenda to facilitate this
change. With my willingness to take on
challenges and embrace the fights that need to occur, coupled with my
experience as your senior councilman, I believe I am the right person at the
right time. I humbly as for your
support.
I may have a video to add sometime Tuesday for those who want to see it all in high def.
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