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As a crucial moment approaches, residents of Wilkes-Barre must decide if we want to continue slogging through the quagmire that makes our government, or wipe the slate clean and start anew.

It would be a rebirth in which all are treated equally and in a just manner. For too long when someone of the clique committed a faux pas, the law – from the district attorney’s office to the magistrates – would move like a sloth in the hopes that the short attention span of the public would make it go away, or buy the time to quash it.

We knew that if we were to return the city to the people, we would have to support a person willing to take on the pressure of an election. The individual would have to know that the present administration would come at him or her with all of its arsenal. After hours of vetting the various candidates we had to come up with the one who would give the citizens of Wilkes-Barre the best shot at turning around the status quo. Someone who could move the masses from the baby table to the table where decisions that govern our lives are made. We needed someone who could meet the opposition head-on and win!

With that in mind, we asked city Councilman Tony George if he would be that person. Would he take on the present way of doing business and bring everything into the light of day for all to see? Would he offer us transparency, honesty, fairness and professional ethics in all city business? Knowing that if he took on this task, he would be starting from behind a massive debt, and distrust by the people who have been dumped on. He would have to resolve all the issues that have perplexed the citizens for so long.

In spite of all this, George accepted the challenge! The gratitude of the public manifested itself by voting Councilman George as their Democratic challenger for the office of mayor. Many of the people who are supportive of Mr. George admire his “chutzpah.” He will be the David in the electoral arena.

All of us who have worked on “our” campaign to elect George would appreciate your support also.

This is our opportunity to help Wilkes-Barre become “our” city again. Vote Councilman Tony George for mayor.

Ray Arellano

Wilkes-Barre