Below is a statement from Hamilton GOP mayoral candidate David Henderson:

“I tend to try and not use superlatives all that much when I speak but sometimes things happen, and I just can’t help myself. I got home late last night and had the opportunity to take a look at a video some of our citizens made of a press conference on the steps to the Hamilton municipal building. I found the video to be amazingly incredible.  As I risked being redundant, there are my superlatives but not in a good way. I witnessed five self-serving, washed up politicians, long since rejected by the citizens of Mercer County and Hamilton Township who claim to be talking about unity as they attacked everybody and anybody who was not like them.  The heartbreaking part was watching them take advantage of the patriarch of the Republican Party, Jack Rafferty. Watching Jack cover his face in the apparent shame of all they were doing.

Let’s get to my message.  Political unity derives from solid leadership, thus the “splintered’ Party Hamilton Municipal Chairman Pone spoke about falls squarely at his feet and at the feet of the failed Mayor Yaede.

I’m focused on the future.  I am the leader to facilitate unity. I pledge real change which will begin with an experienced, well qualified management team for our Township government and no more cronyism.  I pledge to introduce only balanced budgets with no hidden gimmicks. I pledge to no longer borrow money we don’t need and let it sit idle while we pay unnecessary interest.  I pledge to fix the Animal Shelter, consolidate the Fire Districts and improve the roads. I pledge to address the issue of blight and abandon buildings. I pledge to bring substantive economic development to town and not use it as a buzz word to get attention. I pledge to pay attention to our small businesses and make sure we retain them and help them flourish as the backbone of our economic engine. I pledge to do all this in my first year on the job.”  #changetheculture