To the Editor

One of our most important rights as Americans is the freedom to vote. Unfortunately, it is probably the freedom that is least exercised.

I would like to thank all of you that came out to vote in our municipal elections either during early voting or this past Tuesday.

For those that voted for me, I thank you for your continued confidence. However, whether you voted for me or not or even if you did not vote at all, I pledge to every Thomasville citizen my best effort as a member of your City Council for these next two years. I will continue to work hard to represent all citizens fairly and honestly.

Thank you again,

Neal Grimes

Thomasville City Council

To the Editor

I am Jay Browning, and I have just completed my first campaign for Thomasville City Council. I am very proud that we were able to gain support from over 700 voters. I have lived in Thomasville for the least amount of time of all of my opponents, and was unknown to most when we started running. We believed that the voters had already defeated the four-year terms, and are happy that they supported our view on this ballot by voting no.

I have learned a lot about myself from this experience, and a lot about those who also ran. So let me tell you the truth about the people who serve you. First, you should know that I did not support any candidate who voted to add these referenda to the ballot. With that being said, I will start with Raleigh York and David Yemm. It is easy sometimes to respect people who agree with you, but these two councilmen are truly men of honor who care about this community. Then you have Scott Styers, I disagreed with Scott on this issue, but overall he seems to be a man of good character who can separate the person and the issues, and I appreciate what he has done for Thomasville.

As far as Pat Harris- Shelton and Neal Grimes, they both felt strongly that the people should vote again on the referendum for four-year terms, and they were not shy when it came to telling you. Specifically, Neal Grimes who made his points all the way through Election Day trying to convince us he was right.

So, what did I learn from these two. They felt they had done the right thing, and I think they felt they were doing it for the right reasons. I know why they really did it. They voiced these opinions because they care about this city, and they want to make it a better place. They defended their positions for the same reason I defended mine. They were not power hungry or thinking of themselves. They just simply tried to do what they felt was right. I am happy the voters sided with me on this issue, but I understand and respect the passion Neal and Pat showed for what they believe in.

So, with that we add two new members to the council, and we seek to make Thomasville a better place for everyone. I still want to be a part of things, and I want these seven people to be the most successful of any who have served, because I want a better city. So, Thomasville is in good hands, and the people can be confident in the future. The one piece of advice I would like to share with them was written on the bottom of my campaign signs. “To be a Good Leader, You must be a Great Servant” Good Luck!

Jay Browning

Thomasville