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Congratulations to the winners in the district 6-1 State Rep race, Carol Ode and Mr; Hooper.
Tonight's loss was a very disappointing one to me there is no question about that. It certainly is not the way I wanted to have my time in Montpelier end after all these years. But the people have spoken.
With this loss my time in elective office will come to an end. When my term ends on the City Council in 2020 I will not seek another one. Nor will I seek to serve another year as President of the Council in 2019. I announce this with sadness and admit I will greatly miss serving and will miss most of my colleagues and the give and take on all the issues. But all good things must come to an end and the results tonight underscore for me that it is time to move on. I say this with no bitterness toward anyone, just an honest assessment that my time is up.
My personal disappointment is eclipsed by my belief that this defeat is a loss for the center in politics.
Heartfelt thanks to my many friends and supporters in the New North End that have supported me for so long and that have said the kindest things imaginable to me at the polls and at their doors. I will never forget you and I want you all to know how much those comments meant to me. I didn't deserve the incredible compliments you gave me but they warmed my heart none the less.
Thanks also to people that supported me despite political risk to them: Jane Knodell Mayor Weinberger and Dave Hartnett. I will never forget their political courage and I'm sorry they had to take such flak for their support of me.
Hopefully my loss and the elimination of my centrist voice will now end that divisiveness. Politics can be a nasty business.
I will continue to work hard for the New North End and Burlington until my term ends in 2020.
It has been the honor of a lifetime serving the citizens of the New North End and Burlington. I hope you feel that I have represented you with dignity, humor and respect for the institutions I served in.
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