MATT MORRISSEY
ANNOUNCEMENT OF CANDIDACY FOR MAYOR - CITY OF NEW BEDFORD
REMARKS
June 6, 2005


As chief Brody says to captain Quint in the immortal movies “Jaws”,

“Captain, we are going to need a bigger boat!

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Sarah, John, Bruce –Thank You for those very kind remarks and for your friendship and your counsel.

And thank you all for being here tonight.

I see so many faces in the crowd who represent the best of our community and its future.

We are all fortunate to have people like you here in New Bedford, working every day to make this a better place to raise a family, build a business, and live a good life.

I want to THANK so many members of my family: my remarkable wife of nearly 10 years, Kristin, our 3 kids, Alexander, Zoelle, and Henri -- all named for people who many years ago called New Bedford home.

I THANK my NOT-SO-extended family, the Roys, the Vialls, the Letendres; and the Morrisseys, McCanns and the Sheehys --. It does take a village to raise children, and in the case of the Morrissey children, it took a very large village. ---It is a lifetime of guidance and support provided by these people that has shaped my own life.

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MY NAME IS MATT MORRISSEY. I am running for Mayor of the Great City of New Bedford.

I ask you for your vote.
I ask you for your time,
I ask for your energy and your ideas.

But most of all--- I ask you to believe again in New Bedford --- and Believe again IN ALL that New Bedford CAN BE with vital new leadership!

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I have spent the last several months exploring how this campaign can bring REAL change to New Bedford?

It that exploration, it has become clear that we must refocus the Mayor’s office on creating GOOD JOBS, proving BETTER EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY and making our NEIGHBORHOODS SAFE again.

But in running a campaign on these and other critical issues, question remain: Can we return to New Bedford a collective spirit of confidence based in the simple principle that ---a community that works together, thrives together?

Can we overcome the current atmosphere of cynicism or overcome the feeling that those outside the mayor’s inner circle have no role to play in the future of the city.

We have come to the conclusion that…yes…

we CAN do better...that we MUST do better...that we WILL do better.

I have spent many hours listening to the fears and aspirations of people across this city – in every neighborhood, across ethnic and class boundaries. I am grateful for the time people have spent with me and their willingness to share their deepest concerns and boldest dreams.

As a native of New Bedford who is raising my family on County Street, I heard my own aspirations and fears echo in their voices.

As I listened, I learned that people across this city, from the streets to the board rooms, have good ideas ---and the will-- to reduce crime, improve education, and create real jobs.

It has become clear to me and many people across our community that New Bedford needs a team focused on providing modern, thoughtful, inspiring leadership that listens to people in the trenches, in the neighborhoods, and on the shop floors.

And make no mistake, there is URGENCY to our task. Our community is faced with great challenges and a great many opportunities, we cannot sit back and wait through another two years of ad-hoc government.

We CAN do better...we MUST do better... we WILL do better.

People know that there are no easy solutions to the difficult problems our community faces, and nobody has a monopoly on good ideas. Most people in this community recognize a need to collaborate, compromise and work creatively to solve problems.

We must embrace the diversity of interests and ideas that exists
On the City Council,
In the professional staff of City Hall,
In our law enforcement community
In our school department,
AND critically IN our many entrepreneurial non-profit organizations, in our business community.

There is a wealth of talent, energy, and sheer love of New Bedford throughout these segments of the community – just waiting to be heard and respected. With all of these voices at the table, ---

I know that we CAN do better...MUST do better...and WILL do better.

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Now, I know the current administration is burning up the phone lines of the region saying how dare Matt Morrissey challenge us. He should wait another two years. He is too impatient.

Well, if you get that call, as many have, FEEL FREE TO AGREE.

As a father, as a husband, as a son of New Bedford, I HAVE lost my patience.

After witnessing too many opportunities lost --and potential unrealized ---I know that we CAN do better.

After watching more and more jobs leaving the city ---I know we CAN do better.

After watching our streets and neighborhoods become less safe--- I know that we CAN do better.

I am running for Mayor-- because as Sarah points out ---our kids today are dropping out of school at an alarming rate and they have too little hope of building a successful future right here in New Bedford or anywhere else.

We CAN do better.

I am running for Mayor --because I know that –as Bruce just mentioned---our schools must be the great equalizer in our society.

We CAN do better.

Most of all, I want my children and yours to get a quality education--- to be safe in our neighborhoods. We want them to have the opportunity to work right here in the community.

We can do better for of the children of New Bedford.
We can do better for Sarah.

We can do better
For our seniors,
Our workers,
And our business owners.

But, in order to be successful, we need all hands on deck.

People all around this city believe that…Together,
we CAN do better…
we MUST do better…
we WILL do better.

My name is MATT MORRISSEY.

I ASK YOU FOR YOUR HELP

AND I ASK YOU FOR YOUR VOTE AS WE EMBARK TOGETHER ON A MISSION TO RESTORE HOPE AND OPTIMISM TO THE CITY OF NEW BEDFORD.

Thank you.