Young Emerging Leaders

Pete, thank you for posting this as it is definitely something I was wanting to address. Obviously the author of this letter had some very ill-feeling resintment towards me, or more accurately put, towards the me he thought I was. I was actually out of town over the weekend and a friend called me Sunday morning to tell me the good news. WELCOME TO POLITICS!!! was his opening statement.

Before I address the "rumor", let me ask everyone a question. What is the appropriate response a leader should take in a situation like this one? Think about that for a moment.

It would have been very easy for me to bow up, dig in my heels and prepare a counter attack. Orchestrate some sort of back lash against my opponent's camp and anyone who feels the need to perpetuate an unsubstantiated rumor. Maybe even write their names down in a little book to remember at a later date after I was elected. And yes those thoughts definitely crossed my mind. However if I am going to provide REAL leadership that is going to help move this city forward, I have to rise above that. I have to seek to understand why someone feels the way they do, look at the situation from their perspective and then identify areas where we agree and disagree and use that as a starting point to build on and hopefully work together.

So what did I do? I looked up the name Leroy Stollard in the phone book and I called him up. Instead of firing back with a letter to the editor of my own, listing all the reasons he was an idiot for publishing a "rumor" that he had heard and not taking the time to investigate the matter for himself, I simply took the direct approach and called him.

I think he was definitely a little shocked when he received my phone call the very next morning. However we had a very cordial and respectful converstaion. I told him I appreciated his concern as a citizen and I thanked him for having enough passion for the community that would compel him to author a letter to be published in the paper. Then I told him that this "rumor" he heard could not be farther from the truth. That I supported Kevin Lindsey (I signed the petition even before deciding to run for city director), Sandy Pyle was not running my campaign (that would be YEL member Mark Myers), trying to bring back Randy Reed at this point I felt would be like reopening an old wound, and finally, even though Ken Pyle had publicly endorsed me (which I have no control over who all is for me or against me) that in no way makes me a Ken Pyle "clone" (I really do have a mind of my own). From there we had a great conversation. I went on to say how wonderful it would be if everyone shared in his passion for the community. Leroy apologized and told me my stock had certainly gone way up in his book and he encouraged me to write my own letter to the editor explaining that we had talked and that he no longer felt the way he did.

This is what I bring to the table as a candidate and a leader. I am someone who is going to step across the bridge and reach out to the other side, or sides in some cases. Seek to understand their position and why they support or oppose an issue. AS LEADERS, we have to put aside our petty differences, remember we are there to represent the people, and work together to keep Fort Smith moving in a positive direction. Who knows, maybe those who oppose me on an issue might change my mind. Maybe they have access to information that I don't or maybe they have had a personal experience that I haven't. But if you don't sit down together at the table - if you don't make that phone call to the other side - progress and prosperity will never happen and animosity and hatred will reign supreme.

So what's the quickest way to get me to call you? Just speak out against me. I'll be on you like stink on rice