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...GETTING THE JOB DONE |
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FOR RELEASE: THURSDAY, JUNE 28, 2007
To the surprise of few and with little fanfare, Mayor Sam Teresi formally announced his decision to seek another term to the City of Jamestown's top elected post. Teresi has served as Mayor since January 2000 after defeating the former incumbent, Richard A. Kimball, Jr. in November 1999, and again defeating Kimball during a rematch election in November 2003. Teresi will be squaring off in this fall's election against the announced and endorsed Republican Party candidate, Shirley Sanfilippo. The Mayor will once again be running as the endorsed candidate of both the Democratic Party (Row A) and the New York State Working Families Party (Row E) on the November ballot. In making the announcement, Teresi stated: "I'm looking forward to the opportunity of spending the next four years doing the job that I love, for the City that means the world to me." The Mayor noted that he is extremely enthusiastic about and quite anxious to "hit the campaign trail" and will once again be conducting an aggressive but positive campaign. The Mayor stated that he will reinforce his pledge to stop the City from ever slipping back into the fiscal hole of the late 1990's and will focus on his plans to build upon the progress and successes of recent years. In commenting on the announcement, the Mayor stated: "It was just a few short years ago that our City was buried under a $1.4 million operating deficit, created by consecutive budgets that were built upon excessively inflated revenue projections and grossly understated expenditures. The structure and size of our City government bore little relation to the problems before us. Previously approved employee wage and health care packages were simply too rich for a struggling city with a declining tax base to handle. Our streets, parks and other public facilities were the tired, crumbling victims of years of benign neglect. Our Downtown was noted more for its empty buildings. It had been nearly a decade since the City had realized an increase in its total taxable assessment. And, discussions were actually underway with officials in Albany about a State Fiscal Control Board taking over and running the City's financial affairs." Teresi stated that while his first two terms have been marked by some "unprecedented challenges and difficult but necessary decisions" it has also been an "extremely rewarding and gratifying period of solid progress". The Mayor noted that he is particularly proud of the fact that the "partisan bickering and finger pointing, that for years literally paralyzed City government, is largely a thing of the past". He stated that by "working in a bi-partisan fashion with members of the City Council, developing good relationships with state, county and other municipal governments and actively engaging residents and the business community in the process, much has been accomplished during recent years", including:
" It is not an easy task these days, in the face of endless economic hurdles and unfunded mandates, to run a City efficiently and effectively in New York State. Mayor Teresi has done an absolutely remarkable job and his achievements are being recognized throughout the Empire State. "While Jamestown's ongoing progress continues to come at the hands of many, it is quite clear that the Mayor's positive attitude, work ethic and leadership, are the keys to this success." Assemblyman Bill Parment, also a Co-Chair of the Mayor's re-election committee stated: "The voting residents and taxpayers of this community have a clear choice and a wonderful opportunity in this election. They can either allow Jamestown to fall back into the problems of the past or they can continue down Mayor Teresi's road of progress and good government. I trust that the voters will once again choose the right path." Parment continued: "Sam has made the difficult, thankless and sometimes politically unpopular decisions, many of which should have been pursued long ago. Through his focused, aggressive and hardworking example, he has mobilized this community to work together, and the positive results are all around us. In providing a glimpse of what will be coming from his campaign during the coming months, the Mayor concluded by stating: "I have always believed that negative political campaigns will never balance a budget, create a job, expand a small business, rebuild a street or improve a neighborhood. While partisan gamesmanship and sour grapes style campaigns may advance the political agendas of some, this approach will build absolutely nothing of value and ultimately will tear this community apart. "It's easy to complain and sling mud. It's hard to do the right things and make a positive difference in the face of adversity. I will remain committed to and will continue doing the hard and right things. "Jamestown is truly a great place. But, like every city, it is also a community that has its share of problems and challenges. I have always believed, however, that there is more that is good and right about our City than what could possibly ever be wrong. "This is a wonderful town that has recently pulled itself out of a hole and reaffirmed itself to doing the right things, the right way and for all of the right reasons. This is still a place where people care, can pursue their dreams and make a positive difference in the lives of others. And, this is the City, my hometown, in which I will always passionately believe. During the next four years, I look forward to working with others to make Jamestown an even better place in which to live, work, invest, play and raise a family." A Jamestown native, Mayor Teresi graduated with highest honors from Jamestown Community College and obtained his Bachelor of Arts Degree, Summa Cum Laude from the State University of New York at Buffalo. He earned his Masters Degree in Public Administration, again Summa Cum Laude, from the Nelson A. Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy at SUNY Albany. Prior to being elected Mayor, Teresi served for eleven years as the City's Director of Development under four different administrations and as Executive Director of the Downtown Jamestown Development Corporation from 1986-1988. The Mayor is active in numerous youth and community service organization. He is married to Becky Peterson Teresi and is the father of two high school age sons. |
 HARD WORK STRONG LEADERSHIP POSITIVE RESULTS |
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