Here are my opening and closing statements from last night:

Opening

Hello all- and welcome- I’m Cameron Byers, candidate for ward 2.

Humbly, I am no great speaker. As I am at a lack of words, I wish to borrow a few from the poet, author and priest, Malcolm Guite.

"I think the organized political expression of the good of a society is the least significant part of it. The most perfect expression of the good of a society is neighborliness. It's actually about how families and communities work with each other and then how we are neighborly towards the land."

I think Malcolm is correct here- and while I don’t want to diminish the importance of this particular political race, I do think it essential to have a proper perspective. This contest, as I see it, is to advertise oneself as a competent servant of the people. The roles of servant and master, and who occupies which, is the fulcrum on which this contest pivots.

There is a saying in business ‘Culture eats strategy for breakfast’. You could have the best, most talented CPA, public planner, speaker or most gifted administrator- but if the orientation is wrong, the entire purpose of the council and city government is stood upon its head.

And so herein lies my focus- that in every way, the apex of Bartlesville’s society should be recognized as the regular citizen and not its government. That every avenue of consideration is to preference and be rigorously biased towards maximum freedom of each citizen. As to funding- that the government should only very lightly rest upon people’s pocketbooks. As to encouragement of business- to minimize negative impacts and provide space for entrepreneurial endeavors. And most importantly, as to rights- that the people’s rights are to be held secure and sacred.

Thank you

Closing

Thanks everyone for attending this evening- if I have any wishes to carry forward it is that we all will continue to give similar attention to the operations of this city, and more importantly to engage meaningfully in personal efforts to make life just a little bit better for all.

Bartlesville is not merely a place- it is people. People whose rights I treasure and desire to protect. People who care for each other without waiting for a government program to tell them what to do. When Alexis de Tocqueville visited America in the 1830s, he saw that when Americans encountered a need, they would voluntarily form associations to address the lack. This is a strength we see here today, evidenced in our wealth of local charitable programs, and one that needs protecting. De Tocqueville warned that when government takes the place of voluntary effort of the people, the habits and civic character of the people become atrophied. People stop caring because they think ‘the government will take care of this.’ When the government uses tax dollars to do what free people ought to do for one another, we do not strengthen compassion; we dilute it. These bonds of compassion and gratitude cannot be created by government ordinances.

If you elect me, I will work to keep Bartlesville’s government restrained to its proper boundaries, so that the people of this community remain free to exercise personal generosity, to solve problems together, and to build the kind of city we wish our children to inherit.

Thank you, and God bless.