A Letter from Jacques Roy
Reprinted from Cenla FOCUS, October 2006
Dear Alexandria,
I have said throughout the first leg of our campaign that we Alexandrians are indeed at a crossroads - of leadership and direction, of working together or growing apart. The vision and plans I have shared come from me, an Alexandrian, and from you, my fellow citizens, who have contributed greatly to this campaign. I take responsibility for my campaign, and I am proud of what we have accomplished already in bringing a real choice to you through open, honest dialogue.
I believe we stand at this proverbial crossroads with the awesome responsibility to capitalize on recent changes and avoid letting our city slip into complacency and mediocrity. I need your help to move this city forward in a powerful way - your shared dreams, your strength of character, your physical participation, and your courage to tell me the truth and anchor us all to the real message. These recent changes have positioned our town for unprecedented growth, but to achieve that end, we need a competent, passionate leader, who must commence a period of renewal, innovation, inclusiveness, and energy. I will.
The critical issues in this election are: first of all, stabilization of the city council-mayoral relationship, or what we might call checks and balnces; secondly, work together with the council to shore up existing problems with the infrastructure, and then ensure positive, fair, and controlled economic development; and thirdly, focus on the creation of new jobs and the continued fostering of existing businesses in the area.
Our next mayor needs to be courageous and willing to unite Alexandria while taking a tough stance on the issues we face as a growing city. We need someone who is a quick starter and does the homework necessary for the job. Divisiveness, favoritism, and "old-time politics" must yield to real qualifications. Because of my education and experience in governmental affairs, law, and significant involvement in municipal issues, I believe I am uniquely qualified for the job at hand. Throughout this campaign, I have demonstrated to you a concrete vision of our future growth needs.
I believe there was a time when leadership was worked for and where trust was earned. Throughout history, people have looked toward leaders with respect and relied upon those persons to share a vision of growth and prosperity for the community, for our families. Now is that time, again. When Alexandrians go to the polls on November 7, they will face the important task of choosing the right person to lead this city. I am seeking your trust and your vote for Mayor of this great city of Alexandria - my city and yours, today and tomorrow.