Thanks for the support

Looking back on the legislative campaign conducted by the Democratic 24th team we tried, on Tuesday evening, to thank the individuals who helped build our effort, so this letter will be, for the most part, more general. First however, I want to thank Leslie Huhn and Jim Nye, for coming forward to seek election to the State Assembly. I could not have asked for two more able or articulate running mates. But the purpose of this letter is to thank the thousands of individuals who gave their support and votes to my candidacy for State Senate, not only this year but over the past several State Senate elections. It has been my honor and privilege to be your voice in the process. I have tried to present an alternative view of government from the one supported by the majority party in this district. I, like you, believe that the people formed the government to promote the general, not corporate, welfare. I, like you, object to the gradual transfer of wealth, wealth produced by working people throughout the state, to a very few through an unbalanced system of taxation that is destroying the middle class and institutions that support the middle class like public schools. I, like you, am concerned about the growing rate of poverty in the 24th district, and am concerned that the solutions offered by the majority party in this district seem to consist of deregulating environmental constraints on transnational corporations, neglecting public assets, and cutting taxes on the well-to-do even more. I thank you for the opportunity to carry that message to the public, and I thank you for your trust in me, and your votes, over the years. It is very unlikely that I will seek elected office again; however, I am not going away. I am looking forward to finding and supporting new voices willing to speak out for progressive policies. I am looking forward to working with you to identify and support like-minded individuals who will seek office on the local, county and state levels. I am looking forward to working with you to reject the argument that the road ahead for our state and nation must be paved with laid off workers, polluted air and water, disappearing public services, a privatized school system, and a growing divide between people who work for a living and those who take from them in order to amass personal wealth. I look forward to working with you to rebuild a government that puts people first. Ed Selby Branchville