Once again, it's almost time to vote. No, not for me. Not yet, anyway. It's almost time to re-elect John Gorena. I'm very proud of the way Councilman Gorena conducted himself as a city council member. Many citizens in Lewisville have seen the ugly side of local politics. They've seen condesending council members, they've heard rude remarks, they've seen shady campaign practices, and they've learned what it's like to be ignored by the very people we elect to represent us. John Gorena has been like a breath of fresh air. While in session, he regularly slows things down and explains what the council is doing, and why they're doing it. This is the type of behavior that encourages citizen participation, and it's the exact opposite of what we've been subjected to all these years.
These are just my opinions, but if you know me, you know that I care about Lewisville, and I wouldn't support John Gorena if I wasn't sure that he's the best man for the job. It was a victory for the City of Lewisville when John Gorena was elected last year, but we still have a long way to go. There are still several council members who need to be defeated. We need fresh, new ideas. Step 1 is to re-elect John Gorena so we don't regress. We've already had a City Council comprised mostly of sheeple and yes-men. Let's not go back there. Step 2 is finding more citizens who actually give a damn, and who will step up next year and get in the race.
Should Lewisville hire illegal aliens to save money? The answer to that question depends on how much you respect the rule of law. How do you think our mayor and city council would answer that question?
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Find out why I think we should hold off on the Lewisville Center for the Creative Arts. I think it's a great idea, but I sure would like to wait until we can do it the right way. What do you think?
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Please help Lewisville score a quick victory over illegal alien solicitation.
7-Eleven already has the No Trespassing sign posted. With a little encouragement I think they'll make the right decision about illegal alien solicitation.
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Thank you for all the emails and text messages. The two most common questions I'm getting from you are, "Are you okay?" and, "What will you do now?"
Good questions...
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Thank you
Posted by Winston Edmondson
I'm not the guy that got the most votes, and I'm not the guy that's going to be the next mayor of Lewisville, but I am honored that so many of you put your faith in me and voted for me. Thank you. Now let's keep in contact with each other, let's keep each other informed and engaged, and let's keep a watchul eye on our elected officials.
I voted for John Gorena for City Council place 4. He had more votes than either of his opponents, but not enough to avoid a runoff. We need him on the City Council. Please get out one more time and vote for John Gorena in the runoff election.
Thanks again, to all of you. I'm sure I'll see you soon.
-Winston
Issues that are important to you.
Posted by campaign staff.
We appreciate all the concerned citizens that have visited electWinston.com over the last several months. The web traffic patterns for this site tell an interesting story. The following links are the most popular pages on this site, and they discuss the issues that seem to be the most important to you.
Did you hear about the connected city? The city that helped every single business get an online promo video? You didn't see it on the news? Actually, no city has ever done this...until now. As mayor, I will produce promo videos, like the one below, for every business in Lewisville that wants one, with no cost to the business owner...
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There aren't too many households in Lewisville that don't have at least one television. LVTV, Lewisville's TV channel on Time Warner Cable and Verizon FiOS, has the potential to be a great communication tool. I have some ideas on how to make the most of LVTV, and it involves you!
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I want the Lewisville police officers to have all the resources that they need to protect us. My opponent says that he speaks with our officers on a daily basis. If that's true, than he should know that there are many areas where our police officers feel they aren't getting the support and resources that they need...
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As mayor, I will always be looking for inspiration. I'm constantly looking for successful concepts that the city of Lewisville might be able to use. If you've ever visited the Fellowship Church campus... (read more)
The federal government has declared a public health state of emergency because of the swine flu. We need to make sure we're doing everything we can at a local level to keep our citizens safe.
Read more about Lewisville and the Swine Flu.
On the job training is great. It really is. It does have limitations, though. Councilman Ueckert says there is nothing the city can do about Huffines Plaza and the illegal immigrants that stand around all day and solicit themselves. He's wrong, but it's not really his fault. The Lewisville city council has never done anything to solve this problem, so Dean can't be expected to know anything about the solutions that are available. My bachelors degree in government isn't essential for the role of mayor, but this is a great example of how it will be beneficial. I know how to fix this... Continue Reading | Huffines Plaza Solutions
I am extremely happy to report that, as of this afternoon, we have had over 1,000 individuals join our mobile campaign team by texting "VOTE" to 214-235-3336. This is a phenomonal figure because in Lewisville local elections, we often have less than 1,000 people turn out to vote. The individuals that join our mobile network receive text messages with campaign news and alerts. Even more helpful are the text message reminders that they'll receive during early voting and on election day.
When asked about the campaign's text message stratedgy, Winston Edmondson replied, "We need to do a better job of reaching out to as many potential voters as possible. Mobile phone text messaging has been a main stream technology for quite some time. I'm actually puzzled as to why we're the only campaign using it in this way. As Mayor, I will encourage the city to adopt an SMS platform so we can keep the citizens that prefer to communicate in this manner informed and engaged. I'm looking forward to sending 'Time to Vote!' alerts during early voting and election day. I will be very pleased if, with this instantaneous communication channel, we can help produce a record voter turnout this year."
I'll be at the Old Town community forum (candidate debate) tonight from 7-9PM. It's being held at Royal Affairs, 140 E. Main Street. If you don't have plans, come by and speak your mind. Our very own former mayor, Commissioner Mitchell, will be the moderator. Although we see eye to eye on many issues, I don't want her to endorse me, or any other candidate for that matter.
Since she'll be the impartial moderator tonight, I want to make sure that I, and all the other candidates, are above reproach. Citizens are tired of all the funny business in politics. I would be honored to accept her endorsement in private. If that happens, however, I'll be sworn to secrecy.
Tax day hasn't been this fun in a very long time. I'll be at the Southlake Tea Party today at noon, and the Lewisville Tea Party at 5pm. I hope to see some of you there.
So do you think this will be an annual event from now on? Not if I can help it. As a community, we need to get together much more frequently than once a year. We should strive to meet with our neighbors regularly and try to form small neighborhood organizations. It's a great way to keep your community informed about the issues that affect you. I have some exciting ideas that will help foster community engagement. For starters, I want to put the city council meetings on DVDs and give them to any community organization that wants a copy. Citizens can already watch the meetings online, I know, but how does that encourage community engagement? I want organizations, like the LISD Task Force, to be able to watch the city council meetings together. Let them fast forward to the parts that interest them (like when Councilman Ueckert voted for the "New DeLay Middle School" variances...before he voted against them). This is a great way for citizens to get informed together. Informed citizens hold elected officials accountable for their choices. Elected officials that know they're going to be held accountable tend to start listening to the ideas and concerns of the citizens. Now that would be a refreshing change in Lewisville, don't you agree?
Have you ever wished that it was easier to communicate with elected officials? Wouldn't it be nice if local government was more user friendly? Imagine what it would be like. You could ask about anything, or just share your thoughts, ideas, and concerns. "Mr. Mayor, can't we do something about those parents who smoke with their kids in the car?" Could it really be that easy?
As Mayor, I will make myself available once a month, all day long, no appointment necessary, just drop in and see me. Whatever is on your mind, come by and lets talk about it. If one day a month isn't enough, we'll make it two, or three, or whatever we need. Lewisville will be the home of the user friendly Mayor.
Cinco de Mayo is not a Federal holiday in Mexico. It's only celebrated in a few regions of Mexico. I'm not particularly interested in celebrating Mexico's victory over the invading French Army. I don't celebrate Cuba's Triunfo de la Revolución day either. In fact, I can't think of a single foreign country holiday that I celebrate. I'm somewhat puzzled by the huge Cinco de Mayo celebration that the City Council supports. San Jacinto Day...now that's a holiday! On April 21st, 1836, Texas won its independence from Mexico. It's an official Texas state holiday, and rightly so. I feel that it would be much more appropriate for the city to honor San Jacinto Day with a parade and celebration than it is for us to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. What do you think? Email me and let me know.
I love Lewisville, and when God says it's my time, I want to be laid to rest in a Lewisville cemetery. It seemed to me that we didn't have an over abundance of space available in our cemeteries, so I paid a visit to Mulkey-Mason funeral home to find out if that was the case. Mr. Mulkey confirmed my hunch. In less than 10 years, our cemeteries will be full. We'll be sending our loved ones to Flower Mound to be buried. As Mayor, I would encourage taking a proactive approach. Planning and developing a city owned cemetery would solve this problem, and would result in income for the city. This may not be the most urgent problem that we face, but we can tackle it nonetheless.
The I-35 expansion project will provide many benefits to Lewisville. I empathize with the home owners and business owners that will be displaced. I can only imagine what it would be like to be forced to move like this. I recently visited with a business owner that will be affected by the new and improved highway. He received a letter informing him that the current location of his business would eventually be the highway. He has yet to hear personally from the Mayor or anyone from the city council. I asked if he had plans for a new business location. He didn't have anything set in stone, but he was looking at locations in a few other cities. He wasn't considering Lewisville. At my request, he agreed to meet with me in the near future, to discuss some ideas I have about keeping him in Lewisville.
There are some businesses along I-35 that will be displaced by the expansion and the community will breathe a collective sigh of release. There are others that I, and many of you, would like to see stay in Lewisville. As Mayor, I will be attentive to the needs of local businesses. I'll fight to keep them in the city, and I'll work hard to ensure that they're in an environment that is conducive to their success. I'll personally visit with existing business owners as well as successful business owners in other cities. Lewisville needs a proactive Mayor that will do what it takes to keep businesses here, and attract new businesses to the city.
I've said on many occasions that as the Mayor of Lewisville, I will fight for you. I might be jumping the gun, but I'm going to start a little early. I won't stand idly by while voters and potential future leaders are intimidated? Let me share with you an email I received so you'll understand what I'm talking about. "Dear Mr. Edmondson,
I met you about 17 years ago when you used to work at the pet store next to LHS. We bought our first cockatiel from you. The issues you want to focus on are the issues that I care most about, and you'll get my family's votes. I know most of my neighbors very well. I was going to host a coffee party to talk about you, and even see if you could stop by and meet everybody. I've got a few neighbors, but really one main one that is friends with Mr. Uekert. She said that Dean has voted in every local election and it's not right for someone to run if they haven't voted or to vote for someone like that. I think that's a bunch of baloney, but I don't want to get into the middle of it with her, because this will be the first time for me to vote. I'm always complaining about the schools, and if it comes up that I haven't voted, I don't want people telling me to hush just because of it. So instead of a coffee party, I would like to give you the addresses of people I know that feel the way I do about the city, and maybe you can just go pay them a visit."
I sent a long email response to this citizen, but let me thank her again, publicly, for her support. I can't tell you how many times I've read this email. It angers me that a Lewisville citizen has been made to feel this way because my opponent is willing to overlook the ramifications of his actions and statements in order to score cheap political points. The manner in which he denigrates every citizen that can't match his perfect record of attendance at the polls is reckless. Since typically less than 1,000 of the approximately 93,000 individuals that live in Lewisville vote, it's an awfully large verbal net Dean is using to cast aspersions on people. It's not exactly a pep talk, if motivating potential voters to make it to the polls is the goal. It does, however, make for a good whisper campaign...
First time to vote? Find out what Dean thinks about you. (Read More)
LISD Taskforce Forum
A special message to the citizens that attended the taskforce meeting.
Thanks again for the opportunity to speak with you. I enjoyed all your thought provoking questions and would love to be able to visit with each of you to hear more of your thoughts on this great community. Please email me with any additional questions, or if you need clarification on any of the answers that I gave. Here is a link to the book I recommended, as well as a link to Brother Spider, the children's book that I wrote:
Here is a short video clip of the "new Delay" and my opponent demonstrating his lack of concern for keeping Delay where the community wants it.
I heard that Winston hasn't voted...
The ElectWinston.com staff spoke with Winston about the whisper campaign.
ElectWinston.com staff: How is the campaign going, Winston? Winston: Very well. We had a neighborhood meet & greet this morning at the College Street Park and I just got back from the Eagle Scout ceremony for Richard MacKillop II. Did you know that only 4% of all boy scouts achieve the rank of Eagle Scout? Very impressive. EW: Nice. Winston, I wanted to ask you about what some of the staff are calling a whisper campaign against you. Three different volunteers received similar responses when going door to door with your fliers. It was something like, "I'm not sure about Winston. I heard he's never voted in local elections." Winston: Very interesting. I had my first debate with Dean earlier this week. There were several questions about my voting history, which I thought was unusual. If this is what folks are whispering about, I guess it's time for full disclosure so we can move on to more important issues, like Dean's support for a Day Labor site (This is like waving a big, red, flag that says, "Lewisville: sanctuary for illegal aliens"), and his belief that there is something shameful and divisive about the English language.
(more on Winston's full disclosure)
I had the opportunity to meet Dean Ueckert and his lovely wife last night at the LISD task force meeting. I was very pleased to find out that all the rumors I've heard about him are true...he's a really nice guy. I used to think I was tall. My wife is 6' 2" , so for the last 11 years, I've felt a little less tall. Dean is even taller than my wife. He has to be at least 6' 5". Now that's tall.
I like Dean, and as I said, everyone that I've spoken with that knows him likes him, too. I feel extremely honored when I hear from folks that consider Dean a friend and that are giving their support and their vote to me in this election. One woman, who has lived in Lewisville since she was a child, said to me, "Dean is a good man. I've known him for a long time...but you have my vote. The election is important. You don't automatically vote for the guy you've known the longest...you vote for the guy that will get the job done. Period."
It means so much to me when I hear sentiments like that. If you've known Dean for years, or if you've never met him, I need your vote. I would appreciate the opportunity to meet with as many Lewisville residents between now and the election as possible. I'd be happy to visit with you in your homes, or meet you for a cup of coffee somewhere. I want to hear about your concerns and share with you the reasons why I feel I'm the best man for the job. Winston Edmondson innovationatwork@gmail.com
972-200-0935
No Park Left Behind
The conditions at Sycamore Park are not worthy of our children.
My wife and I took all 4 of our children to Central Park recently. Lewisville has several beautiful parks. Every family that lives in Lewisville deserves to have a nice park that they can go to and enjoy the outdoors. As I visit with families all over the City, I ask the question, "What would make Lewisville an even greater place to live?" Today, a little boy looked up at me and replied, "It would be nice to get some bathrooms at the park. You know...real ones." I went to Sycamore Park, the one he was speaking about, and I was shocked and disappointed at what I found. Dean, please explain to me how you, as a City Council member, are okay with the conditions at Sycamore Park.
My name is Winston Edmondson and I'm running for Mayor of Lewisville, Texas. To the residents of Lewisville, I'm running for, and because of you. I believe that every idea is valuable and every concern should be heard. As Mayor, I will ensure that City Hall is a venue, not where citizens are permitted to be heard, but where it is our privilege to hear from you.
From the pages of The Lewisville Newspapers
Winston spoke with the two Lewisville newspapers about his campaign.
Delay Middle School was the original high school in Lewisville. When the new high school was built, it became a middle school. It holds many dear memories for scores of past and present Lewisville residents, including me. Can you imagine the positive effect it would have on Old Town if it were revitalized? Instead, the LISD plans to relocate Delay to the old Milliken school. How do you feel about this? The new school's parking lot falls far short of our code requirements. Do you think it's appropriate for the City Council to give variances that would allow the parking to remain as it is?
As Mayor, I will discourage any and all variances for LISD if they continue to make decisions that are detrimental to our city and our students.
