Many of you have already seen Ciara Kitchen’s post on Facebook about the attempt to intimidate her, but for those who have not, here is the nutshell version. Ciara gave Pitts Lesesne, candidate for Mayor, permission to put his campaign sign in her yard. Very soon after the sign went up, a friend told her someone was threatening to “ruin her campaign” for alderman in Ward 3 if she did not remove Pitts’ sign. She removed the sign.
Then her innate honesty and integrity kicked in and she knew she couldn’t live with herself if she gave into intimidation. So she put Pitts’ sign back in her yard and posted on Facebook to expose the threat to the public.
Ciara’s position is as simple as it is courageous and admirable. She thinks she will be a very good alderman for Ward 3 and wants to serve in that position, but not at the cost of her integrity. And she won’t ask voters to honor her with their votes if she isn’t strong enough to stand up to campaign intimidation.
Ciara knows those who are threatening her will make every effort to “ruin her campaign.” She knows she could lose the election. But she will take that risk. After all, if she buckles to threats as a candidate, what will stop these people from threatening her after she is elected to try to force her to vote for what they want instead of what she believes is best for her ward and for the City of Cuba?
We need more aldermen with Ciara’s kind of strength and integrity. If you live in Ward 3, she deserves your vote.
Jackie Hunt
Cuba
