"It's great to be with you all here today and I'm honored and humbled to have your friendship and support as I officially declare myself a candidate for Charlottesville City Council!

These are exciting and challenging times for the City of Charlottesville.

Here we are in the #1 place to live in America, yet too many of our neighbors, especially the working poor, are falling behind.

Here we enjoy an excellent school system, yet too many of our children aren't realizing their academic or social potential.

Here we have a booming real estate market, yet too many of our fellow citizens cannot afford to buy or rent a home in this area.

Here we've adopted far-reaching sustainability accords to guide local decision-making, yet too many of our plans and policies fall short of the promise and responsibility of environmental stewardship.

We're doing well, but I believe we can do better…."

*********************

"This is an exciting day for me. I've spent a lot of time over the past few months talking one-on-one with dozens of Charlottesville residents - from prominent community leaders and former mayors, to business owners and schoolteachers, to homeless ex-felons and low-wage workers - about this race.

For the most part, these conversations have only reinforced my interest in running for office.

These discussions have also been very eye-opening. Here's what I've learned:

First, people are disillusioned with politics and with politicians.

We live, after all, in a cynical age. From the White House and the Congress on down, our political leaders too often play on our fears and exploit our differences for their own personal and partisan gain.

We wage wars in the name of peace;
We spew hatred and bigotry in the name of love;
We slash critical services for the poor and the infirm in the name of compassion.

I, for one, am not going to join that race to the bottom.

I believe in a politics of hope and opportunity. I believe - I know - that public service has the capacity to bring people together to enrich the common good.

If nothing else, I want my candidacy, and my time in office, to demonstrate that politics and public service can be an uplifting and creative force for improving our community and leaving this world a better place for our children.

Here's what else I've learned in talking with folks over the past few months:

People are eager for change.

" They see taxpayer dollars being used for questionable purposes, and wish for greater fiscal responsibility in government.

" They see poverty amidst plenty, and wish to expand opportunities for people to become self-sufficient.

" They saw the haunting specter of Katrina, and wish to redress the gross inequities in our society that she laid bare.

" They see kids getting frustrated in school and losing hope in life, and wish to provide them a better future.

" They see unchecked suburban sprawl, and wish to check it.

" They see important decisions being made with too little input from the citizens who will be affected by those decisions, and wish for more openness and participation in the decision-making process.

I, too, see these things and I, too, wish to change them.

It's tempting sometimes to just resign ourselves to the idea that there's little we can do to change the way things are.

But in the immortal words of Dorothy Day, 'No one has a right to sit down and feel hopeless. There's too much work to do.'

So, my friends, we have work to do. Are you ready to get to work?

Good. So am I!"

*********************

"This is going to be a fun campaign. And I'm so glad that you all are along for the ride.

We have serious issues to address, but we're going to maintain a positive and upbeat tone to this race and not let ourselves get dragged into the negativity and cynicism that so often pervades politics.

It's seven weeks until the Democratic Nominating Convention on March 4th. Between now and then, I will be holding a series of events to unveil specific proposals for:

" Expanding the supply of affordable housing for renters and homebuyers
" Enhancing educational opportunities for children and adults
" Fighting poverty and reducing racial disparities in our community
" Promoting environmental sustainability in local and regional planning

These are vitally important issues to me and for our community, but this is not just a campaign about advancing my pet issues. It's about getting people involved. It's about reaching out to people who may have never voted before, or to long-time residents of our community who may feel their interests have been cast aside in recent years. It's about tapping into the energy and idealism of our young people. It's about convincing people that politics matters. It's about filling the auditorium of Burley Middle School on March 4 with hundreds of people who say, it's time for a change. And it's about building momentum for a great victory party on May 2 when we can say with confidence and pride: the people responded.

So thank you all for being here, and for all your words and acts of support.

With your help, I know I can secure the nomination on March 4 and go on to win the election on May 2.

With your help, I know we can make Charlottesville a true 'World Class City' for ALL its residents." (Dave Norris, January 12, 2006)