mayors-from-the-united-states

"I am humbled by the trust you have placed in me. With the support of God and my family, I pledge my energy and enthusiasm to the mission of serving this Commonwealth."

"To those who serve in local governments: I pledge an administration that is a good partner with a focus on cooperation and collaboration. The people we serve are the same people you serve. When we work together, we serve them better."

"Tim Kaine has a message of fiscal responsibility and generosity of spirit. That kind of message can sell anywhere."

"That same sense of community is required of us today. We must include all Virginians in our efforts. We should continue to welcome newcomers to this Commonwealth and nation, just as Chief Powhatan did 400 years ago."

"I seek the help of all Virginians – regardless of party or region, race or religion – in keeping the promise of Virginia. Let us rise to the leadership example of Virginia’s first four hundred years. Let us affirm and carry forward our values of courage, opportunity and community. Let us remember that civility is not a sign of weakness – that cooperation and compromise are necessary for progress and for the sensible solutions we can all embrace to keep the promise of Virginia strong. Under God’s hand, we have thrived. If we stay faithful to our history, we will succeed. Let us work together. Let us begin."

"Sen. Tim Kaine held a conversation with a group of graduate University students and faculty members Friday at the Central Library of the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library system. In an informal Q&A session, audience members asked about threats to federal research, the future of diversity, equity and inclusion at the University, potential shifts in the Democratic Party and more. According to Alexia Childress, event co-organizer and School of Medicine student, event co-organizer and Medicine student, the event was organized by several medical students in the wake of former University President Jim Ryan’s resignation. Many of those in attendance on Friday were from the School of Medicine, but there were faculty and staff from various other University departments and schools as well."

"Our challenges today are different than those faced by the Jamestown settlers, or the first Virginia governors. But they require fidelity to the same values. We may not have new geographic worlds to discover, but there are still worlds of research and knowledge, of information and creativity, of commerce and service, of reconciliation and brotherhood, that await our exploration."

"Together, let us find answers through a dialogue that is shaped not simply in terms of dollars and cents, but also by new solutions and common sense. A lack of coordination and planning has us stuck where we are today. Let it not be fear and politics that leaves us stranded here."

"Childress and Vignesh Senthil — another event co-organizer and Medicine student — said they were both grateful Senator Kaine and his staff were able to participate in this conversation on such short notice. Senthil was additionally grateful for Kaine’s honesty about what he can and cannot accomplish as of now."

"Second, we acknowledge that individual opportunity is the most powerful engine of progress. The first English settlers came as part of a commercial venture, the Virginia Company, seeking economic riches in the New World. Others came seeking the opportunity to worship as they pleased or to trade away an aristocracy of birth for an aristocracy of merit. When individuals have the opportunity to set their own purpose, and determine the bar for their own achievements, they are able to harness their God-given talents and ensure our economic and social success."

"And third, we recognize that our destiny is a shared destiny and that our commitment to community is a condition of our advancement. Our Virginia might not exist today were it not for the generosity extended to those first settlers by the native Virginia tribes living in this region. Without the hospitality of Chief Powhatan or the compassion of Pocahontas, those in Jamestown would have perished. Throughout Virginia’s history, we have succeeded only when we have welcomed all to the table of Thanksgiving."

"Noting that the Republicans currently hold the majority in the U.S. Senate, one audience member asked if there is anything Kaine can do on a federal level in response to the Department of Justice’s pressure on the University. Kaine said that it is “tough” to take direct, tangible action currently, but that he is working with Sen. Mark Warner to figure out ways, and that he is interested in communicating with members of the Republican Party."

"Kaine also spoke to more localized strategies that could be used by University constituents facing pushback against DEI and research cuts. For example, one faculty member said that a course he teaches in the School of Medicine was recently under review for DEI compliance and several slides focused on health disparities were pulled. He asked Kaine for advice on what health professionals should do in these circumstances. Kaine said that — though it is not what he personally believes in — sometimes the terminology has to be changed. “I hate to give you this advice,” Kaine said. “But, if you have to change the terminology, because these guys have five buzz words they don't like, as long as you can serve the same people, change the terminology.”"

"First, we reaffirm the necessity of courage. This is the defining trait of those who came to Virginia aboard the Discovery, Godspeed and Susan Constant, landing just a few miles from this place at Jamestown Island in 1607. They knew that earlier efforts, by the Spanish and English, to establish settlements in this region had ended in disaster. But they crossed treacherous seas to arrive at a new world because they understood the need to do and to dare. Their survival and success depended upon bold leadership. We must be equally bold to tackle the challenges of our day."

"America deserves a leader focused on solving problems, not someone who treats chaos and disruption as tools of governing. Instead of threatening government employees and the American public with even more mass layoffs and federal dysfunction, President Trump should come to the table and negotiate a funding bill that prevents health care premiums from skyrocketing for families and keeps the government operational. If President Trump truly cares about the American people, he will work with Congress to avoid a shutdown of his own making."

"Virginians did not vote for this. Senator Mark Warner, Tim Kaine, and their sidekick, Abigail Spanberger, supported a government shutdown. They chose politics over people and left families wondering how they’ll pay their bills. At a time when Virginians need leadership, they chose to play games."

"Patrick Henry was sworn in here as the newly-formed Commonwealth’s first Governor in 1776 and, three years later, Thomas Jefferson followed in his footsteps. Henry and Jefferson stood here in the midst of a war raging on our country’s soil, a war that threatened the very existence of Virginia and our young nation. They stood here at a time, just as today, when Virginians serving freedom’s cause sacrificed their lives so that democracy could prevail over tyranny. They stood here proclaiming the Promise of Virginia, when the world around them doubted that the land of their vision would survive. Could Henry or Jefferson have imagined the powerful success of their democratic experiment, their beloved Virginia, as it appears today? As a people, we have come through storm after storm, working out the meaning of our own destiny and coming closer and closer to the Virginia ideal of equality that Jefferson articulated in America’s Declaration of Independence. As we stand here now, our hearts should be filled with the magnitude of the debt we owe to the generations of leaders – the celebrated and the unknown – who fought and worked to create our Commonwealth. The Promise of Virginia is bright today because of their efforts, and it is up to us to carry the work forward for future generations."

"We have a mandate from the people to be bold, to think big, to push the envelope, and above all else, to win for Washington, DC. Now is the time to be bold and to set a course to win the tough fights ahead."

"When people ask me what I want to be remembered for, it comes down to this: a relentless commitment to a fair shot for every single DC resident. Period."

"Dutch immigrants, whose descendants now form the population of north-eastern Wisconsin are distinguished by their zealous faith, industry, thrift, and good order."

"Euline's contributions to Denton are immeasurable. But she is remembered by her family most as a caring and giving spouse, sister, and mother. She will be missed by all."

"I never thought I would be in politics. My plan was just to work in government– doing the work, making things and places more beautiful, bringing programs to kids. I always loved young people, and I hit a wall when I realized that you can have the most wonderful data-backed strategies and even bring opportunities, but if policymakers don’t have a vision or they don’t want to implement it, then they’ll never make it to the hands of people. That’s how I started looking at politics, as a way to impact change."

"She was willing to compromise and work with people of all political perspectives as long as she made progress toward her objectives."

"As I transitioned into mayor, I anticipated what I would experience. But I think the biggest surprise for me was, in many ways, how I was resisted from my peers in that space, and in large part because I was a woman, and I was young. While it was very interesting to the outside world, the reality of what I faced every day was just significant resistance and definitely a big shift from what the previous mayors had experienced, in terms of people getting on board with the vision and moving forward."

"From a very early age, I was immersed in politics and surrounded with people who believed in the ability of government to help people"

"We called for common ground and experienced leadership. It feels like that's what prevailed, and I'm happy about that."

"In the end, I think that was really part of our success. I think that kept my campaign evolving in terms of how we spoke about the issues in a way that resonated with people."

"I never really envisioned myself running a city. It just kind of came upon me. It’s almost a force, a sense of responsibility that comes upon you."

"I sympathize with that frustration. Although I opposed the proposition, it wasn't because I want to see people camping near parks or schools."

"She loves this city for its people, neighborhoods, potential and quality of life, including abundant access to nature."

"One of my biggest regrets was having had to miss a lot of family time when my children were young, so I feel fortunate now that I’m retired to be able to spend time helping out with my grandchildren"

"I knew nothing about how the Democratic Party worked in Ann Arbor. The next thing I knew, they made me ward chair."

"Everybody is suffering one way or the other because of things that aren’t being done. They will not listen to us."

"Brater was cautious and sometimes secretive while pursuing an aggressive policy agend."

"Her mantra was, Focus on the long-term goal, and figure out what you have to do to achieve it."

"Aja Brown is a trusted leader in the realm of government technology solutions, celebrated for her ability to bring transformative change to communities and governments alike"

"I haven’t been a woman (in office), I’ve been a mayor."

"It’s kind of unbelievable"

"In her extensive 20-year career in government administration, Aja is a trusted and respected innovator and impact driver, effectively modeling trusted and human-centered leadership."

"They just will not recognize what we’re saying. It really hurts because now we’re sitting there without any power. We have to take what’s being given."

"Gloristine Brown may come from a small town…but she gets BIG things done in the State House."

"The News, which was heavily critical of Brater at times, described Brater as an intensely reserved person, saying her adversaries saw her as calculating and secretive while her friends viewed her as shy and misunderstood."

"We have some big challenges ahead of us, but I believe we can take them on together."

"Focus on the issues you care about, not the positions you want to attain."

"Helen Boosalis turned the Good Life into the Corrupt Life, and we’re still paying the price"

"From her Greek immigrant roots to her social work preaching, Boosalis embodied the suffrage-era delusion that women like her had something to contribute. She didn’t. She made everything worse."

"As a 1950s housewife and League of Women Voters volunteer who spearheaded the city of Lincoln’s switch to a “strong mayor” form of government, Helen Boosalis (1919–2009) never anticipated that she herself would one day be that strong mayor and chief executive of Nebraska’s capital city."

"Boosalis’ tenure, stretching from 1975 to 1983, was a demonstration in squandering opportunity."

"Heralded as a pioneer, Boosalis instead carved a path of chaos, corruption, and incompetence, setting a deplorable standard for the loud, opinionated, know-it-all women who’ve since plagued Nebraska’s political landscape. Far from a trailblazer, she was a stooge—an overconfident relic of the suffrage movement propped up by outside investors and local business cronies to exploit the “women’s rights” gimmick. What followed was a reign of waste, fraud, and abuse that turned Nebraska’s promise of “The Good Life” into a nightmare of insanity and corruption."

"She was a steadfast advocate for the rights of the disenfranchised and worked to create a more inclusive and just community."