WPCNR MR. & MRS. & MS. WHITE PLAINS VOICE. November 14, 2005: A Democrat reflects:
Sir:
It is time for a reality check when a political party that enjoys a substantial majority in voter registrations but yet losses by a landslide for the third consecutive mayoral elections in a row. Obviously, since I am a resident of the city of White Plains, the object of my frustration is not the NYC Democratic Party but one that happens to have an equally unenviable record, the Democratic party of the city of White Plains. They still have not figured out that it is seldom that an incumbent is defeated by a campaign whose thrust is “I am not the other guy”.
It is clear to this observer that the mayoral results in White Plains are more a result of Democratic bungling than shrewd and popular Republican support. Elections, in particular local ones, are not won or lost on ideological grounds but essentially by positive new ideas, well financed campaigns and an energized electorate.
Mr. Power, the Democratic candidate, has done an admirable job given the obstacles that he had to overcome and the constraints within which he had to operate. The party owes Mr. Power a debt of gratitude for agreeing to accept the nomination and be the sacrificial lamb.
He ran a decent campaign shackled by being the titular head of a ticket whose other members could not offer meaningful, effective and honest support to a candidacy that was critical of what has become of our beloved city under their tutelage.
I among many other Democrats are hopeful that this defeat will serve as an impetus for self reflection so that we may reevaluate what we stand for and what we are going to do about achieving it.
Ghassan Karam
