Smaller government is good for ALL!!!

I want to recognize and applaud the City's "SMART Women" for the first ever forum on the Suffolk mayoral race.

I was gratified to see that my message of smaller, less intrusive, and less costly government was heard. My campaign is focused upon reducing local government and forcing it to emphasize "core services" like police, fire, schools, transportation, and simple things like picking up the garbage.

From 2005 to 2008, the Suffolk City operating budget has grown by 50 percent and in that same period, our population grew by just over 1 percent (79,000 to arguably 81,000). This excessive spending is directly attributable to the fact that our local government has pursued speculative real estate deals, development that outstrips our infrastructure by questionable rezonings, and by just impeding the people with endless red tape and new fees. Government overall has become too large, too expensive, and much too intrusive over the last eight years in Suffolk. Local government touches upon the daily lives of our citizens by its close proximity to almost all we do and how we do it and has become overly expensive and toxic to our futures.

We all understand that some government functions underpin modern society, however there is a serious debate on why local government should be allowed to grow so explosively. I strongly believe that government cannot solve all of our problems, nor should it try.

When asked about a myriad of social issues by the "SMART Women," I stated that much of what they were concerned with could not be solved by government, but only by personal examples of leadership. Suffolk, like many communities has limitless potential in its people, but only if local government does not drain away such vision by stifling red-tape and over-bearing taxation. I appreciate the opportunity given to express my distaste of excessive taxation and government intrusion in our lives by the "SMART Women.

The debate of government intrusion and growth in our lives will only be resolved at the ballot box. I also believe this is the message of our times and will grow in recognition.

As a wise sage once said: "In the beginning of a change, the patriot is a scarce man, brave, hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds, however, the timid join him, for then it costs him nothing to be a patriot--Mark Twain, notebook 1904."

Roger A. Leonard, MPA
Suffolk mayoral candidate