"Let me just introduce myself: I am...NOT part of the problem. My name is John K. Wilson, and, I will appear on the ballot as John Kevin Wilson. I am the Republican in this race to be the next Member of the New York State Assembly. District 37.

    Now, I know what some of you are thinking: George Bush and Dick Chaney. I am not them, and, in fact, I voted against them--twice--with glee. I hope this reassures Democrats, who seem to reflexively conger up images of those two whenever they hear the word "Republican"; but, I hope it also reassures the more conservative types who didn't care so much about the Bush/Chaney doctrines of profligate spending, Harriet Myers, and Rumsfeldian warfare. 

   Still, some New Yorkers can be very funny about Party labels. Michel Faulkner, the GOP nominee for the US Congressional seat currently held by Charles Rangel, relates an interesting phenomenon (yes, he spells his name as "Michel").  Mr Faulkner is a former professional football player, he is a Christian minister, and--a native of Baltimore, and, now a resident of Harlem--he is an African-American. He has members of his family who have told him, "Michel, we love you, we believe in you, and we think that you'll be terrific in Congress; but, we are not going to vote for any Republican; and, that includes you."

    New Yorkers are the most sophisticated of people; but, many simply revert to habit when the topic turns to politics; and, some won't even listen to the other side simply because it is the other side. They may find much to agree with if they did; and, perhaps our state would be better off for it.

   Make no mistake, our state is in trouble. The Brennan Center For Justice at the New York University School Of Law has called our state lawmaking body the most dysfunctional and most irresponsible State Legislature in America. Democrat and former three-term Mayor, Ed Koch, says of our lawmakers in Albany, "The good ones aren't good enough, and the bad ones are evil."

   Determined to do something about it, Mayor Koch has founded a group, www.NYUprising.org, whose goal is to reform Albany. NYUprising has devised 3 pledges to restore sanity and common sense to our state. They are; 

   #1) No Gerrymandering. 

   This is a re-districting year. The proposal is to have the new districts drawn by an independent group preventing attempts by incumbents to enhance their re-election  chances unfairly.

   #2) The Drafting of Honest Budgets On Time...

    ...by adhering to accepted accounting techniques with no gimmicks. 

   #3) Establishing an Independent Ethics Board with Subpoena Power...

    ...and "teeth" to deal with ethics violations.

   Because I signed these pledges--and these are the only pledges I've signed--Democrat Ed Koch has called me a "Hero of Reform." My opponent has not signed them; the former Mayor calls her an "Enemy of Reform."

   Some of you may say that my opponent may not be perfect; but, she's ours; and, it is better to keep her--the devil we know--than to elect Wilson--the devil we don't know. Perhaps; time will tell. But, you and I realize that, if you don't like things the way they are, the classic definition of insanity is doing the same thing you've always done, and expecting a different result.  

   Again, our state is in serious trouble. I was not a part of creating that; I am asking you to break out of old patterns by sending me to Albany with a mandate of real Reform--not politics and business as usual. You will find that I am Pro-child, Pro-parent, Pro-business, and Pro-private-sector job creation. I am also very Pro-Veteran's Rights, and very much in favor of maintaining the healthiest of Police and Fire Departments The core of my campaign is to provide the best possible education for every child in this state regardless of what the Entrenched Special Interests find inconvenient  about that. And, I think you'll discover that I will be "user-freindly" to all of you--whether or not you contribute to my campaigns. I very likely won't serve for any period of time approaching 26 years; I have other things I'd like to do with my life. However, I have made a commitment to put aside my usual pursuits, for the time being--and for the foreseeable future, in order to serve my fellow citizens--you-- in this time of crisis. I love my City and I love my State; and, I think I can be a part of saving them.

   In closing, I'd just like to thank you all for coming tonight to a civically-minded event. Many of our neighbors can't be bothered to take an active interest in the condition and governance of our society-- distracted as they are by Lindsey Lohan's latest drama, American Idol, or the NFL. That's clearly not you--whatever your party affiliation. I thank you for that; and, I thank you for your kind attention. Good Evening to you all."

   In the text above, I declare myself "pro-private sector job creation." How does Catherine Nolan rank as a "job creator"?  Well, according to the State Business Council, on a scale of 1 to 100; she scores a -15. That's correct--15 below zero. She ranks 145th out of 150. Click here:www.unshackleupstate.com/scorecard-new/assembly-scorecard.cfm