Letter from John H. G. Hamill IV

City Needs a Diplomat

61.7 percent of the people who filled out a poll from another newspaper are not in support of the Rehabilitation Support Services housing plan, 22.6 percent of the people are in favor, and 15.6 percent of the people said they are unsure. This poll was conducted in late March of this year. I trust this poll regardless of who participated in it.

Here’s what I’ve noticed in politics and government: If the majority outnumbers or outranks the minority of the vote, the majority rules. If I am elected mayor, I will not press an issue like RSS. If the people say no, then I will try to work on a compromise. If no compromise is possible, then I will permanently drop the issue.

We do not need another mayor who is pressing on issues that are causing strife or a division with the people of the city. We need a mayor who listens to the people and to help bring unity back into the city.

This goes for appointing people to the Common Council if such a resignation were to happen. I will bring all candidates’ names to the council members, where they can vet the candidates either on Zoom or in person and do a selection process of whom to serve on the council, even if the candidates are petitioned by the ward residents and others who support and/or endorse a candidate. This is how diplomacy works.

John H. G. Hamill IV
Oneonta