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| Rockhold Drops Out of Mayoral Race -- READ FULL STATEMENT HERE |
POSTED 11:55am, UPDATED 1:03pm 1/21/09 Economic development, old ideas, and a lack of vision. These are all reasons the Galesburg mayoral race has been slimmed down again.
Former candidate Nathan Rockhold will no longer be in the running for Galesburg's top spot. In a statement released Wednesday morning, Rockhold says over the past few weeks he's come to the realization that he, "could make little to no difference in Galesburg with the current and probable upcoming city councils."
He says the city council is more concerned with reputations than what is best for the community. Rockhold also says that for any person on the council to believe that they, along with the city's economic development director, can take on growing the Galesburg economy is, quote, "truly arrogant and ignorant."
Rockhold says the city council is filled with old ideas that have done nothing for the community but create boards, councils, and committees of "backward thinkers" -- many of the same things he said when he announced his run.
The departure of Rockhold Wednesday and businessman Terry Haywood last week narrows the field to eight for Galesburg's mayoral opening. The candidates left in the race include Knox College Professor Marilyn Webb, State official Sal Garza, 5th Ward Alderwoman Karen Lafferty, former aldermen Rollie Paulsgrove and Margaret Hall, and Galesburg residents Eric Delawder and David Roknich. Former Mayor Bob Sheehan has not formally announced if he's running or not.
All candidates will have to file their petitions to run in the April election before next Monday's deadline.
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The following is Nathan Rockhold's full statement, as written
"After much thought over the past couple of weeks I have came [sic] to the realization that I could make little to no difference in Galesburg through seeking the office of mayor with the current and probable upcoming city councils. Especially when the city council is full of individuals that are more concerned about their own personnel [sic]reputation than what is best for our community. For any person on the council to believe that they along with a sole economic development representative can take on the large task of growing the Galesburg economy with no background in the area is truly arrogant and ignorant.
"Unfortunately, our city council is full of old ideas that have continued to create hurdles and perpetuate our stagnant economy and frighten away any future growth. These old ideas have done nothing for this community but create a mass of boards, councils and comities of backward thinkers. With the current state of the economy and the immanent [sic] perpetual stagnation of the current direction of the city council it is truly daunting. This is why I will continue to help and support any economic development efforts I can in the form of public private partnerships.
"I would also like to point out that the future mayor and city council's job is to develop a vision of where they want Galesburg to go and then take steps to get us there. That means that they must take the initiative and direct the city manager to carry out a program of the mayor, city council, and citizen's design. That doesn't appear to be the way things now work in city hall.
"There isn't much of a future for a town while it is run by those that can't think and assemble new ideas quickly. The future of this community will be in embracing the future and adopting modern approaches to economic and community development. I will continue to be an outspoken advocate for making fundamental change in Galesburg because I see that as the only way for this town to grow and prosper. Good things come to those who make them happen, not those who chose to just sit back and wait." |
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| 01 21 09 by Newsroom |
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