Norfolk Daily News

Friday – October 31, 2008

Time for change
NORFOLK — We, as residents of this fine community, deserve the best that is available to us. We should have the best schools, the best recreation, the best shopping, the best restaurants and the best entertainment because that would mean we are a thriving community built for growth.

But we all know that this is not the case as we have gone backwards in several of these areas in the last 20 years. We have lost major employers and we have seen recreation decline and many residents shop out of town.

Norfolk needs change. We need a leader, someone who will step up and ask the difficult questions. We can’t continue to keep doing what we are doing and expect different results.

The Norfolk mayor’s race is an opportunity for that change. Ask yourself: “How can I make a difference?” By listening to and believing what one candidate is saying he will do for our community.

Tom Schommer will be that leader we have not had. He will be that ambassador for new business and a friend to youth and families.

Tom will find out how our tax dollars are being spent in a difficult-to-understand budget. He saved the taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars questioning the wisdom of our city’s decision to buy an old church next to a cemetery. This move would have removed city hall out of the heart of our city. He brought community groups together to explore other options for a new administration building.

As citizens we can choose to get more of the same or we can decide to make a change. I prefer something new as we have had very little change in over 10 years. I firmly support and will vote for Tom Schommer on Nov. 4.

TROY UHLIR