RYAN SHELL CHANGES FILING STATUS TO AT-LARGE
Greensboro, N.C. (July 17, 2009) – Ryan Shell, a Greensboro City Council candidate has changed his filing status from District 2 to At-Large.
“From day one, part of my motivation for running has been to do everything possible to bring positive change to Greensboro,” said Shell. “I have been campaigning in District 2 for nearly two months and am ecstatic with the amount of support we’ve drummed up thus far. In no way am I abandoning the groundwork I’ve laid or the initiatives that I’ve started, but we are simply going to take those efforts to a new level and make things happen citywide. The goal of this campaign is to bridge gaps, unite Greensboro and really make some things happen.”
Issues Shell plans to focus on include, but are not limited to:
- Positive economic development
- Public Safety
- Honesty, integrity and accountability in city government
- Equal representation on Boards & Commissions
- Equal funding for all council districts
“I look forward to working with, and listening to citizens all across the city and showing them that my campaign is based on action, not just talk,” said Shell. “I also look forward to running one of the most transparent campaigns Greensboro has ever seen. When someone votes for me I want them to feel like they know more about me than a few talking points on a Web site. I’m very excited about what lies ahead and helping Greensboro plan for the future… because far too often we only worry about what is happening right now.”
In regards to the previously announced scholarship program, Shell still plans to give away $5,000 of his annual council pay in the form of five $1,000 scholarships, one for each district, upon being elected.
For more information visit VoteShell.com.
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{ 24 comments }
We have had an abundance of rhetoric about transparency. Will you take a simple step to demonstrate that you mean what you say by allowing comments to be posted here without moderation?
You previously announced that you were going to provide five annual scholarships of $1,000 each to students who live in district 2, starting in 2010. Are you going to keep that promise?
Roch,
Gosh, I just realized I uploaded an older version of the release. The final paragraph should say (which I’ve now updated),
“In regards to the previously announced scholarship program, Shell still plans to give away $5,000 of his annual council pay in the form of five $1,000 scholarships, one for each district, upon being elected.”
I think the program will give a great number of our youth the opportunity to now take part in a local scholarship opportunity. I can’t put this in stone right now, but my ambition would be to somehow increase the fund and offer either larger, or additional scholarships.
In regards to the moderation, like I’ve said before, I’m comfortable with the moderation process and plan to keep it that way. Taking my campaign site out of the picture, it is how I also run greensboropolitics.com as well as my personal site. I think I’ve only denied four or five comments over the course of the last two years… and they were simply uncalled for (most saying very rude things towards sitting council members). You and I differ here, and that is okay.
Ryan
So, you previously announced that you were going to provide five annual scholarships of $1,000 each to students who live in district 2, starting in 2010. Are you going to keep that promise?
As to comment moderation, Ryan, it is not a matter of differing opinions, it is a matter of your sincerity. When you promise transparency, but insist on moderating your comments, that is contrary to transparency and makes you seem phony.
I’ve altered the scholarship program to properly represent the office I am running for. I wish I could offer five scholarships in each district… but I can’t do that at this time.
Roch, you just made a comment – and it can now be read by all. If moderating a comment makes me phony in your eyes… I guess I’ll have to live with that. In a time where we are worrying about a vast array of issues, I would think comment moderation might come in very low on a crowded list.
I’m not phony and am also not perfect. I’m really trying to run a different type of campaign and have no doubt you won’t approve of every step I make. There are simply larger things to worry about than the fact that I do or don’t moderate comments.
Ryan
PS – would you rather me simply turn off the comment feature all together?
I am not worried about whether or not you moderate comments. I am greatly interested in transparency in local government, having been frustrated by a lot of lip service from elected officials and little action. So when I see a candidate who says he is for transparency, then refuses to bend to transparency on something he, in his own words, says is of little consequence, it makes me think he is insincere on the matter.
How about this for transparency – from day one, I have openly admitted that I will always moderate comments. Not hiding that one bit. I think you are in an extremely small percentage of people that would remotely care Roch.
Ryan
We’ll see.
Hello Ryan,
Just curious, why didn’t you use the services of burchley before the switch?
BWV,
Would still love to know your name! I understand though…
The district race was smaller in scale and, in my mind, a bit more manageable. Bill has a lot of experience with the political landscape in Greensboro and I felt he could offer some good advice for my At-Large campaign.
Hope that helps a bit. Thanks for con’t to visit the site.
Ryan
With his reputation (bad) in the AA community, how do you think that will pay out? I know that Skip has used his services in the past, but I’m talking about now. Particularly his recent antics at city council. I most say I was disappointed when I read that you were using him.
As I have told you in the past, I was trying to keep an open mind about your campaign, but with this divisive fool, I just don’t know.
In my book, burkley=trudy wade and that ain’t good in my book! Running at-large in a crowded field, you had the opportunity to get D2 voters over to you and probably D1. That would have given you an edge, but damn man! bill burkley?
BWV,
I’m running for At-Large, not Bill. I didn’t approve of his council antics and I told him that when we talked. Not cool.
In this race, Ryan Shell = Ryan Shell.
Ryan
and you still using him because he wins elections?
Ryan Shell=politician
I’m using him because he has a lot of knowledge… Bill doesn’t win elections – he helps candidates strategize so that they can win elections.
Some might enter an election for the heck of it, but I want to win so I can bring positive change to all of Greensboro. Thanks for giving me the chance to continue proving myself to you.
Ryan
even if those strategies alienate a constitency that you had an opportunity to meet face to face and built a relationship with when you were running in D2?
Or are you giving up on that constitency to go for the bigger pie?
BWV,
Most people that have decided I’m a good guy that cares about Greensboro would not judge me as you are for using an outside source to help strategize a complex campaign. By the way, members of the constituency suggested that I should consider using Bill because they wanted me to do well.
And no, as I’ve previously stated, I’m not giving up on the district.
Here is what I’m thinking. I’ve responded to a lot of your questions, of which hardly any were issue related. As I continue to “keep it real” I can’t help but think no matter what I say to you, you will simply not believe me. If you want to talk issues I’m game.
Lets try something new. What is important to you?
Ryan
Having someone on council will not just saying whatecver it takes to get elected. Once on council become a party of no for the sections of the city that need to hear a yes!
Living in D2, you know that it is a district of extremes. So, I believe you when you say that some members suggested that you use his expertise.
At this point ryan, all I’m going to say is good luck, good night and thanks for posting my comments.
Your comment about council members is understood. Any issues specifically related to D2? Take council members out of it – what issues are having an impact on your day-to-day life?
Ryan
“What is important to you?”
People are telling you what is important to them, you aren’t listening.
Thanks for your comment Roch.
I gotta be honest Ryan, this is not a great start…you start your candidacy undecided whether you’re going to run in D2 or at-large. Then you spend a few months running as D2 candidate, then at the last minute change to an at-large candidate….Frankly, that doesn’t look like decisive leadership to me. Why the uncertainty…? Is this what we can expect from you as a council member – inability to make and stick with a decision…?
Everest,
I stepped backed, realized what I needed to do and made the decision. No, that is not what you can expect from me as a council member. I’ve never claimed to have done this before, but I learned a lot while running in the district and realized that running At-Large is what I needed to do. It would have been worse for me to realize that I should be in the At-Large race, but to have stayed in the D2 race because I was worried what someone might say. Of course I knew someone might mention the flip, as you did, but it was the best decision.
We are still a ways off and I hope you’ll allow me to prove myself to you. Thanks for stopping by the site.
Ryan
So you spent two+ months running in D2 and all of a sudden, within a couple days of the cutoff, you have an epiphany that suggests you need to run city-wide…? Should the other four D2 kids looking forward to having an opportunity at earning a $1,000 scholarship be upset with you now?
And what issues/concerns prompted you to run citywide? Why is running citywide better for you than running in the district in which you live?
Something about this smacks of political posturing and manuvering….don’t worry Ryan, if you win, you’ll fit right in.
Everest,
I felt it would be most appropriate to distribute the scholarships citywide given the race I’m taking part in. I think you are missing the point – I’m trying to do something to help the kids. Yes I altered the distribution, but the goal is still to help five kids. Would it not be wrong to neglect the youth in the other districts? I’m simply trying to give back and hope you will someday see that.
While going through this process I realized how folks try to pigeonhole you into only talking about items related to the district. I care about all of Greensboro and decided that I didn’t like the idea of limiting what I could or should discuss. Of course, there are more details, but it was my decision and one I’m happy I made. Again, D2 will always be a focus because it is where I live.
Ryan
Note: I’m turning off the comments on this thread because there are other things I’m working on and need to focus on those items. The contact page allows you to send messages to me – feel free to use it if you’d like.
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