Political Statement from Mary Ellen Rose, candidate for Mayor
Submitted to Good Morning Gloucester
Running for the office of mayor was not a decision I made easily. I based my reasoning on the fact that I knew I had the knowledge, experience, and capability to do a better job than the administration that I was paying taxes to support. I want to be Gloucester’s Mayor because I believe in our community and I want to support our resident taxpayers with strong, effective leadership.
If you haven’t had a chance to learn much about me, there are several places you can go to read more. I have posted several documents on https://www.rose4mayor.com/news which will provide detailed information about everything from my work experiences and position papers about issues, to my thoughts and answers to questions that have arisen throughout this campaign. In https://www.rose4mayor.com/testimonials you will hear from people I have worked with, for, or among over much of my career. If you want to learn about some of my personal history, https://www.rose4mayor.com/about provides some insight. I have also posted a number of videos on both my campaign (Rose4Mayor) and personal Facebook pages and I hope you have a chance to see them.
One of the things I believe in is promoting our ability to make a living in ways that build both our community culture and our individual pride in Gloucester. This city has, for centuries, survived as a middle-class community built on a hard-working fishing industry ethos. In addition to our proud fishing heritage, our family-built Rose Marine and other businesses to serve the waterfront and the general population of hard workers. I saw first-hand how tenacity and grit led to prosperity not only in our family businesses, but also in the businesses owned by close friends. This focused, hard-working, service-oriented ethic was instilled in my very core and has served as the basis for the values upon which I have built my life.
When it comes to economic prosperity, success can often depend upon a city government that is accountable, transparent, service-oriented, and business-friendly. By partnering with the community, my administration will ensure both accountability and transparency rather than continue a system that closes ranks and cloaks its mistakes or intentions beneath the velvet curtain of politics. I believe in openness – open door policies, open meetings, open communication, and managing the city with an open heart to our community members
Another important belief I hold is in regard to our city’s changing population. Gloucester has refreshed its point of view from new arrivals to our seaport. From the earliest settlers, to the Portuguese, Italians, Swedes, Finns, and other groups from around the world, each wave of immigrants came here to work and make a better life for themselves and their families. Most recently, our Brazilian friends have picked up that tradition and breathed new life into our community like those who came before them. I salute those residents toiling to build businesses, raise close-knit families, and getting involved in the community to ensure a more culturally and economically rich city. We welcome those who bring their work ethic and love of community to our city. I believe in this type of growth for Gloucester and I want to cultivate it to the benefit of our entire population.
Lastly, whether you have made Gloucester your home in the past year or hailed from ancestors across the past 400 years, if you have recently felt squeezed out, I hear you and I want to solve this challenge together. I want to work in a collaborative environment where all of the stakeholders have a seat at the table to address issues. Where the wildest ideas have room to breathe and float among realistic or innovative suggestions. Where every voice is heard and considered within a thoughtful, open forum. At the end of the day, the only squeeze I want you to feel is the hug of a welcoming and kind embrace that says ”You are one with our community and we want you to stay here and thrive, what can we do to help make that happen?”.
Please vote for Mary Ellen Rose as Mayor on November 7th. Thank you!
Good Morning Gloucester 