Campaign Announcement

Fellow Voters,

My name is Michael J. Carter and I seek your vote to fill one of the five at-large seats on the Revere City Council.

I trust other voters are as tired of this “smile and lie” brand of politics that continues to prevail in our great city by the sea. I am one who prefers honesty and straight forwardness and hope my fellow Revere residents are ready for change.

High taxes, no accountability, the politics of pushing our problems under the rug instead of identifying them, fixing them and not replicating them in the future are just a few of the reasons why I seek one of the people’s seats on the council. I believe this election should focus on the problems facing the average Joe and Jane Revere home owner, the city, and its residents who have been hammered with high residential property taxes, out of control water and sewer rates, rising crime, astounding foreclosure rates, ever increasing excise tax and car insurance rates, and utility bills that rise with no explanation.

The proposed 2012 budget is $138 million dollars; an amount that should be more than enough to run our city. But it seems it is not enough for it fails to put more police on the street, care for our seniors, support our families, or fill our potholes.

I strongly feel that the electorate, the honest, hard working, loyal residents of Revere, are looking for a caring ear to listen to their questions and concerns, their needs, their vision for our city. Someone who can speak for them and only them, not City Hall insiders, special interest groups, or heavy donors but you, the people, tax payers and concerned citizens.

You might have heard this election season’s buzz word, “leadership”. Politicians everywhere are claiming to be “true leaders”, “proven leaders”, or “leaders for the future”. Although I respect the people repeating these catch phrases, I disagree with this philosophy and frankly find it insulting. Each and every Revere tax payer is a leader in their own right. The job of elected officials in our democracy is to listen to the voters and follow their wishes.

Among the issues I believe Revere could benefit from focus on are:

- Establishing a casino that will provide jobs for Revere residents first. A successful resort with its income and revenue potential could help alleviate the need for continued increases in property tax and water/sewer obligations.

- Ensuring the elderly of Revere, our “greatest generation”, are part of our plans in making Revere great again. Revere should be a desirable place for seniors to enjoy their twilight years. This will come by increasing the meager budget of $240,000 for further implementation of focused programs and services geared specially to them.

Surely the residents of Revere could better benefit from the $300,000 given to NECCO and it’s parent company American Capital, an 18 billion corporation. What kind of message are today’s “leaders” of Revere sending when they give less to our seniors and more to a multi-billion dollar corporation that hasn’t kept its word to the citizens of Revere.

In the coming weeks and months I look forward to meeting with as many Revere residents as possible. I hope to meet you as I explore the city, discussing your vision for a better Revere. If we should miss each other please feel free to contact me at your convenience.

I can be reached seven days a week by phone at 617-934-5651 (mobile) or 781-284-2842 (home), through Twitter @MikeFROMRevere or on my website at www.reverecitycouncil.com.

At your service, now and in the future,

Michael J. Carter