Brockton’s history is filled with the spirit and drive of great leaders -- entrepreneurs, inventors, sports champions, and visionaries. William McGunnigle invented the baseball glove. Davis DeBard saved Brockton from the influenza epidemic. Thomas Edison discovered electricity. William Douglas built one of the world’s largest companies. And, backing all of these men were devoted women.

I believe great leaders look to great leadership of the past to remind us of what is possible and to inspire new dreams for the future. To me, a new leadership of hope looks forward with vision and passion to make the most of our changing world -- a world that rewards individuals, institutions, and cities that connect in dynamic ways to ideas and resources across borders.

Since the last election, Brockton has been stuck in neutral. Unemployment, violent crimes, bankruptcies, and frankly, cynicism about the future are on a dramatic increase. Yes, leadership continues to be Brockton’s most pressing issue.

Through my involvement in community work for many years, my volunteer efforts in Brockton, and my urban planning research work at MIT, I have witnessed first-hand the power of leadership when a community decides to take an active role in shaping its own future.

Can Brockton extend the benefits of economic success to all of its residents and neighborhoods? Can it retain a vibrant mix of income, ethic, and age diversity even as it attracts higher income residents? Can it create pathways to educational and economic success for all its young people?

I’m committed to the hard, important, and exciting work of running for mayor of Brockton in 2007 because I believe the answer is “yes!” Progress on these challenges will require thoughtful policies; good old-fashioned hard work; and most important, leadership with candor and respect, vision and purpose, integrity and accountability.

I have listened to thousands of residents, with differing perspectives and from all walks of life. And from all over Brockton, I’ve heard what you’ve heard. We have had enough of leadership on the quick, of leadership through friendship and last name, of leadership that says: I’m running because I’ve been told it’s my turn. It is clear that an effective leader deals with the issues that are faced by everyday residents. Real solutions don’t “trickling down,” they grow from the ground up.

As mayor, I promise to fight to build a city that works for all us, to offer a new leadership of hope where:

• Every individual has equal rights under the law – no exceptions;
• Where elected officials see themselves as public servants, accountable to you;
• Where business growth is about both the economic bottom line and the quality-of-life bottom line;
• Where a first-class public education is viewed as the best investment we can make in our city; • Where no neighborhood is safe until every neighborhood is safe; and
• Where buying a home is just as important as holding on to your home.

Brockton is at the right place in time for change. Join me, and let’s win this election!

With regards,

Jass Stewart