Tonight Is Still A Victory In Raleigh

Friends,

Congratulations Mary-Ann Baldwin and Russ Stephenson on their victories tonight in the Raleigh Municipal Election. Democrats will remain in control of the council, and continue to champion our issues around transit and strong neighborhoods. While ultimately, we did not win in this race, we championed issues of economic development and comprehensive public transportation. I will continue to work with the city council to advance our position on these issues.

I want to challenge us Democrats as we move forward in our great city:

• Commit to comprehensive public transportation: Raleigh is a world class city with a world class workforce. We must move forward on the development of a world class transportation system.
• Support the half-cent sales tax for transit: We in Wake County have the tremendous task of convincing voters county-wide of the necessity of the half-cent sales tax for transit. We must work in unison to make this effort a reality.
  
• Keeping Democrats in office nationally: Our losses in Raleigh may be a forewarning of 2010. We must work diligently to keep Representatives Brad Miller, David Price, and Bob Etheridge in office in 2010. We must also work with our party's nominee to oust our lackluster Senator Richard Burr from office in the 2010 midterm election. We must also support our folks in the General Assembly in the upcoming midterm elections.
  
• Holding John Odom Accountable: Rodger Koopman has been a great public servant to District B, and his absence will apparent on our council. We Democrats have a great responsibility to hold John Odom accountable to leadership in a 21st Century Raleigh. When John Odom last served Raleigh we were in the throws of the "anti-Raleighisms" of Mayors Fetzer and Coble. We must hold Councilor Odom to 2009 standards of sustainability and quality growth in our city, and expect him to support Raleigh's future

I look forward to working with each of you to Build Raleigh's Future. We will be in touch over the coming weeks, as we work on future races.

Thanks for the tremendous support you have given me. Let's continue to Build Raleigh's Future Together!


Lee
lee@sartainforraleigh.com
http://www.sartainforraleigh.com