About Me:
Why Andrew Gounardes Didn’t Win in Bay Ridge
I wanted to vote for Andrew Gournardes, but I couldn’t. I think young people running for office is great. But Gournardes hasn’t done enough in this area to show that he is vested in the area like we are. I researched him at the beginning of the summer. I contacted the head of the Democratic group that was endorsing Gournardes. I urged the Democratic president to encourage Andrew to get involved in the schools. When I checked back in September, Gournardes had a website which didn’t say anything about what he had done. Rather, the website attacked Marty Golden. Candidates sites are supposed to highlight their accomplishments. I was so annoyed, I wrote this post on my site. Now I haven’t liked everything Golden has done, but he is effective in our area and his office is very responsive to residents here.
I hope we will see Gournardes again in the future, but this time he will come back with a list of things he has done to make this area better. What can he do to win next time?
- Gournardes is a law school graduate – he can write grants for schools and local groups.
- Gournardes can stop the hate towards Golden and concentrate on himself. He can also ask people in his party (which is also my party) to avoid creating Fake Marty Golden accounts and making websites thinking they are exposing Marty for something. Run a fair campaign – if you are a winner, you don’t need to rely on cheap tactics. Smear campaigns make people suspicious and your campaign manager was smearing on social media.
- Gournardes had citizens write letters in his favor (which is a good thing), but then he didn’t pay for postage on these letters and they were left all over our neighborhood by someone. Since it was windy, they flew all over the place. (THE ENVELOPES HAD OUR NAMES ON THEM) and my neighbors were not happy. Someone on my block who had a sign up for you took it down because he had a no soliciting sign up it was ignored by your distributors.
- Gournardes can become more than the typical politician who is shaking hands with people outside the train station as they go to work. That type of politician isn’t needed around here. Michael Grimm does that too and he was voted out as well. More chat takes place between neighbors and in our local establishments. I don’t want to hear that you knocked on people’s doors, I want to hear what doors you have opened for residents here. If you are someone who gets things done – show us that. If we call or e-mail Marty’s office, someone responds. People should know you enough that you don’t need to knock on doors.
- Don’t rely on Vinny Gentile to predict the race – I love (LOVE) Vinny, but he’s not good at predicting (I am). I wrote this post before the polls closed. I could have written it months ago. Also, did you realize Gentile didn’t send out a recorded message for you? I got two messages from Vinny endorsing a candidate in another position. Didn’t you set aside money to let well-known politicians encourage the public?
- When it’s time to concede, you have to do it and be a gentleman. Know when to hold them – know when to fold them. Whoever advised you against conceding shouldn’t be on your team next time.
Recently, someone wrote to me and said that this position you were running for wasn’t very important. That person obviously doesn’t understand the position. It could possibly be one of the most important elections for us as we really depend on our local representatives. Most people here knew that Obama was going to win, but they went out to stand on a line and vote to help decide this election.
Hugs,
marlene
Topics: Uncategorized | 5 Comments »
November 7th, 2012 at 8:22 pm
I’m with you.It’s a shame he didn’t do something – really anything to show that he wasn’t just using this position as a stepping stone.I met his mother and she seemed very nice, but there was no history or prior works in the community.
November 7th, 2012 at 8:38 pm
I don’t think Gournardes understood what this job entailed. He seems to like the image of politicians instead of realizing what is really needed here. Woman’s rights and rent was his big concerns. The thing is that isn’t on the top for most that are voting in our area.
November 7th, 2012 at 8:45 pm
Gournardes and the Bay Ridge Democrats are a little too wet behind the ears to take advice. In a few years, they will be a bit older and maybe more open minded.
Bay Ridge had a lot of people at the voting center, but we were the youngest ones there. The people there aren’t renters – they are home owners who rely on Golden to protect their interests.
I’m sick of women crying about equal pay. When you act the right way and have the right credentials, you get the right pay. How do I know? Because I work in male dominated area. I always get paid a fair salary.
November 7th, 2012 at 11:38 pm
I was just looking to see if Andrew won and found this page. I think a lot of people were voting for him based on his Aunt being a teacher. That’s probably not the best reason to vote for someone. I guess you are right about the fact that he hasn’t done much and could do more before the next election.
November 8th, 2012 at 11:36 am
So you will help Andrew in the next election Queenie?