Letter: My heartfelt thanks to everyone
John Valdes
St Augustine, FL
My heartfelt thanks to each and every one of you who supported my campaign for city commission. I very much wanted to serve the City of St. Augustine for the next four years as your commissioner and it is a great disappointment not to have achieved that goal.
Although I did not win, I did, however, achieve several personal goals that are important to me. Allow me to share them with you. When I decided to run for office, aside from winning, I set four principal goals for myself and my campaign.
The first goal was not to spend more than the equivalent of one year’s salary for a city commissioner. I did not solicit for campaign donations and accepted only those that were freely offered. I did not want to be perceived as selling favors by asking for money or as buying the election. Call me idealistic, but I was determined to be elected on my merits rather than dollars spent.
My second goal was to stand on the moral high ground and not take the campaign negative. At no time during the election did I resort to attacking my opponent. Throughout the campaign, I stuck to what I believed to be the most important issues facing our City. I asked for your votes based on my record as a successful St. Augustine businessman, my long record of unselfish service to the City, and the diverse skill set that I could bring to the commission.
My third goal was to have fun with the campaign and enjoy the experience. I have certainly done that! The series of political forums were challenging and energizing. During the campaign, I met a lot of wonderful, caring people who have become new friends and reconnected with many old friends as well.
My fourth and most important goal was to shine a bright light on some of the most critical issues facing our City. It is gratifying to me that many of those issues, such as the need for a zoning code review, have been embraced by others. Hopefully, these issues won’t die now that the election is complete, but will get consideration and creative action by our new city commission.
Yes, I wish that we could have been victorious and I can’t help but feel like I’ve let you down. I regret not being able to serve you on the new commission, but everything happens for a reason. It’s a new day and time that we all moved forward.
I salute all the winners and feel sure that our new mayor and new commissioner will do a wonderful job for all of us. Now it is up to all of us as citizens who love St. Augustine to assist the new commission and city staff to preserve and make this magical city even more special than it is today.
Once again thank you so much for your support during my campaign. I treasure your friendship more than you will ever know.