Candidate Makes Campaign Pledges

By Terry Miller, candidate for mayor

I pledge that my campaign will not engage in personal attacks nor participate in the politics of personal destruction against any of my opponents in the campaign for mayor of Douglasville.

I encourage all candidates for mayor who wish to do the same to join me in signing this clean campaign pledge.

Politics is a rough game. And in some ways, it is rightfully so. After all, we are dealing with people's lives, their fortunes and their environment. Each day, as elected officials we make decisions of paramount weight. And those decisions have the potential to affect our community in ways which could have an impact for years, even decades. It is therefore critical that citizens of the highest character and ethics hold the offices that determine the path of our future. Indeed, the "weeding out" process to select our leaders needs to be thorough.

Unfortunately, in the rough and rumble of competition, politicians are often willing to cross a line in the sand that results in inappropriate behavior. We commonly call it negative campaigning. And when campaigns apply the destructive tactic of personal attacks and innuendo, our citizenry becomes apathetic and disinterested in the public sphere.

The City of Douglasville has many challenges of its own, far too many for the candidates to its highest office to engage in bitter pettiness toward each other. The expectation that this behavior will inspire the public to get in line behind the last person standing is false and misguided. This campaign tactic does not serve Douglasville or its residents.

It distracts from the real issues that must be resolved for our community to progress. The choice is clear. Do we elect a leader who is effective at solving our economic and planning dilemmas or do we empower a place holder who is effective at destroying the reputations of his or her fellow citizens?

My campaign for Mayor will seek to inspire and uplift the members of the community, engage the public to participate in the political process and give people a resounding reason to vote for my candidacy. I will not play the political game of personal attacks. I pledge to run a positive campaign.