Editor, The Spotlight:
I want to thank all the friends, family, neighbors, volunteers, and supporters who worked so hard on my primary campaign. You were sincere, positive, respectful and responsible in your actions and in your words. Thank you.
I also want to thank all of the roughly 2,300 residents who voted on Tuesday for your participation in our local democratic process. Thank you.
There are things in life far more important than winning an election. As my Dad taught me, it’s not whether you win or lose; it’s how you play the game.
And you play with heart, intensity, and honor. You always do what’s right. You play by the rules and if you do that you can hold your head high.
Our campaign focused both on our town’s strengths and our community’s future challenges. I ran an honorable, positive and issue-based primary campaign with no personal attacks and no regrets. And I am proud of that.
The hundreds, if not thousands, of town residents who received the nasty letters, personal phone calls, and personal attacks on me from the sitting supervisor and my opponent know the other side simply cannot say the same thing. And that’s a sad reality. We all know that. We all live here.
The attacks on my service, my character and my family would be unacceptable if they were true; they are despicable because they are not.
But despite that, I got my clock cleaned for another very simple reason – people wanted a choice in November. This campaign wasn’t about experience, issues, personalities or policy positions. It was about a concept, and a powerful one.
And clearly the 7 percent of town residents who voted sent a clear message about voter’s having a choice in November. We all know that. We all live here. I hear that loud and clear.
Now, my opponent wants me to drop out, political pundits say I can’t win, my friends and family think going against these dirty tactics and the politics of personal destruction is simply not worth it.
Ironically, if I do what my opponent asked for in our debate and drop out, the other 93 percent (30,000 plus residents) in town will not have a choice in November. That seems ironic and hypocritical at best.
Do Bethlehem residents still want a choice?
Right now, I’m going to spend time with my family and in the near future make an announcement as to what’s best for our community.
In the meantime, I’d like to hear from town residents as to whether or not they want a choice in November. And either way, I thank you.
Kyle Kotary
Delmar
