As you can imagine, I have a wide range of thoughts and feelings about last
week’s election. I am understandably disappointed with some of the results,
including the fact that I was not reelected to represent the people of Ward 2
on the City Council.
But right now, I want to focus on how grateful I am.
I thank you for all the kind words, support, and appreciation I have felt from
so many people since election day. The comments and messages I have received
from so many people have been uplifting. Thank You.
I am grateful to my family and to my closest friends and supporters. Throughout
this campaign and throughout the years I have been fortunate to have an
amazingly tolerant and supportive family, an outstanding group of volunteers
and supporters. My thanks go to all of those who offered advice, volunteered
time and energy, hosted events and served on my campaign team --- especially
those who took on titles and played key roles like Ruth, Brandon, and Jesse. I
am especially grateful, and I can’t say enough about, the various key roles
played over the years by Robin Garwood who has been there with me for all our
City Council campaigns.
Not only has he been there for the campaigns, but also, and more significantly
he has been there with me, as my Policy Aide, in City Hall. His effectiveness,
capability, passion, and commitment have been critical to whatever successes we
have had. I am also grateful for Nancy Olsen, my Associate, who has served with
Robin and me these past nearly 16 years to provide the best service we could
for our constituents and to make this community and City a better place. Her
service to Ward 2 reaches back further than mine, as an Associate for previous
Ward 2 Council offices under both Paul Zerby and Joan Campbell.
Any and all of my accomplishments, large and small, have not been mine alone.
They have only been possible because of the help, support, often leadership,
and guidance of neighborhood groups, residents, workers and business operators
in the community, as well as a wide array of committed, talented people ---
some from advocacy organizations and some with causes of their own. I am
especially grateful to the many amazing people who work for the City of
Minneapolis. It has been a blessing to work with so many people who care so
deeply for our community and our city and are ready, willing and able to help
make it a better, healthier, safer, more just, more democratic and more
sustainable place. I am deeply grateful for having had the opportunity to get
to know, and learn from, so many capable and committed “do-gooders” from the
community and from within city hall who truly care for and love our city and
our people.
Looking ahead in the short term, I plan to be as involved and engaged as ever
as I complete my last 6 or 7 weeks as a Council Member. My to-do list is long,
and I am already assessing how much I can get done this term and how best I can
position my initiatives for success in the future. I offer my congratulations
to Robin Wonsley Worlobah, my successor, who I will be meeting with soon. I am
committed to making it as smooth and as successful a transition as I can for
her, and for all of you. Please let me know if you have ideas about how best I
can do that.
And please know, I am deeply grateful to each and every one of you who I have
come to know and have had the opportunity to interact and work with over the
years. It has been among the highest honors of and greatest privileges of my
life to represent you and serve the people of Minneapolis these past 16 years
as your City Council Member.
Yours always, in peace and gratitude,
Cam
612 296-0579