WPCNR MR. & MRS. & MS. WHITE PLAINS VOICE. July 19, 2005: A reader comes to Dennis Power's defense, explaining why he would leave his job to campaign for Mayor, and suggests that Robert Greer, should he ever resign from the Council, choose his own successor:
RE: Filling a Possible Vacancy
John,
I would like to make a couple of comments about your recent article ‘Filling a Possible Vacancy on the Common Council’.
You questioned why Dennis Power resigned his job to run for Mayor of White Plains. Dennis has made it quite clear that he intends to dedicate all of his time and energy to his campaign for Mayor, and that he felt that it would not be fair to his employer – The Hudson River Museum - to accept their money and not given them his full attention. In addition, part of his job was to solicit contributions from business, and individuals who he would also be approaching as part of his mayoral campaign, and he wanted to avoid any potential conflicts.
This is also why he would be unlikely to accept an appointment to fill Councilman Greer’s seat if he resigns – he could not give it his full attention, and his positions could all too easily be dismissed as political posturing.
You also accused him of getting off to a slow start. Probably true. The activity will be ramping up in the next few weeks. Please see www.PowerForMayor.com for additional information.
You made a number of other suggestions and pointed out various advantages to the Democratic pary. But, we should be looking at what is best for White Plains, not the parties. Personally, I think that if Councilman Greer decides that he cannot complete his term, then he should select the person that he feels best embodies the ideals that he was elected to represent. Mr. Greer has earned the respect of the citizens of White Plains with his years of dedicated service, and I think that he could be trusted to pick a qualified replacement.
Don Hughes
