“MORE CHOICES FOR THOSE WHO HAVE FEW”

When thinking about what position I should take on any given issue, I think of Carl Stokes.  Stokes was the first African-American mayor of a major U.S. city – Cleveland, Ohio.  Later he was my political science teacher in college.  Stokes subscribed to the philosophy of securing “more choices for those who have few.” 

That turn of phrase always stuck with me. 

As Democrats, we want to use our collective capacity to offer families in need the choices that wealthier citizens can buy for themselves.  I believe there is nothing weak or un-American about sacrificing for the good of our neighbors and our community.

At the same time, only a vibrant, growing economy can produce the resources to do what is right, so we must enable our businesses to flourish.  We trust elected leaders to set a fair balance – to protect the weak and cultivate the productivity of the strong. 

If I go to Springfield, one thing will remain the same:  You matter more to me than the political money machine.