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Dear Friends:
The votes are still being counted in all of the LA County races, including the Long Beach Mayor’s race. And, although there remain an unknown number of votes still to be tallied, the trend is going in the wrong direction for our campaign. It appears that the people of Long Beach have spoken and selected Vice Mayor Richardson as our next mayor. I wish him nothing but success on the journey ahead.
I am incredibly proud of the campaign that we ran and how hard each and every one of our supporters, staff, friends and family worked to fight for what they believed in. As a young kid trying to learn a new language in a new country, I could never have dreamed of running for mayor in one o this country’s greatest cities. This is the essence of democracy and the heart of the American dream.
I love the city and will always work hard to make it a better place.
As for me, many of you have reached out over the last few days to check on me and to offer your continued support. I wanted nothing more than to serve my city in the best way that I could. That has always been my goal: Service over politics. I have a full life filled with an incredible career, a loving family and loyal friends with integrity. I will be fine. This journey was never about me.
Over the last 11 months, so many people have invited me into their homes and shared their concerns and hopes for the city. They are the inspiration behind this journey. I am hopeful that our city will unite and rally around the concept of making sure that every community thrives and that we are less divided and more connected as we move forward. There is no doubt that we have some serious challenges ahead of us.
I am often reminded of Theodore Roosevelt‘s “Citizenship in a Republic” speech, which hangs on my office wall at the District Attorney’s office.
(I modify it often to add the WOMAN in the arena.) It’s a little long, so bear with me here:
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man or woman who points out how the strong man or woman stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man or woman who is actually in the arena, his or her face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself or herself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he or she fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his or her place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”
To our community, and especially our young residents, DARE GREATLY and be authentic because we will all be better for it if you do.
Suzie
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