It is that time again and in this go$-$round, the choices for mayor of this city could not be more distinct. In

addition, there is an interest in this campaign, which we have not seen in a long time! Because they

differ so strongly on important issues, voters have a choice between two very separate visions for the

future and challenges ahead. This means that the citizens of our city need to pay close attention to the

two platforms and carefully consider which candidate offers the most realistic way forward.

Tim Nicholson is a community organizer and public advocate, most known for his activism in the fields of

education, affordable housing and expanding community resources. Reginald Lowman is a real estate

developer whose many buildings spread throughout the downtown area. Both acknowledge that the

Silverlake area has problems with gang activity that must be dealt with, and that the city budget is of

major importance. However, Lowman sees these two areas as city emergencies while Nicholson asserts

that Lowman is exaggerating the urgency. Neither has actual governing experience but the one thing

they agree on is that this will not be an impediment to addressing the city$$s problems. Both are equally

energized to lead our city with starkly different ideas on how to approach the various problems our city

faces.

Lowman is the most controversial of the candidates, mainly because his approach to how to govern is

unconventional. Attendance at his rallies is consistently high. His method of campaigning is unorthodox,

as he does not hold back in his criticism of his opponent. Not only does he accuse Nicholson of being

anti$-$business, he even questions his experience as a public advocate. That is because Lowman$$s

National External Diploma Program $2017$ CASAS $$ Comprehensive Adult Student Assessment Systems. All rights reserved. $3$

experience is in an entirely different world of real estate development and finance, areas he sees as

directly relevant to dealing with both the problems in Silverlake and what he claims is a looming budget

crisis.

Thomas Reynolds, who dropped out of the mayoral race after two months, is now a big supporter who

likes Lowman$$s idea of developing the urban area in the Silverlake district, stating, $$The addition of

hotels and restaurants could bring income into an untapped tourist industry, provide jobs, and much

needed revenue to the city.$$ Lowman believes this will also purge the area of the gang activity by

connecting the neighborhood to the existing tourist industry. Still, Lowman has not provided details as

to how this development would be funded and how long it would take to see the benefits. $$There is no

way Nicholson can take this city where it needs to go$.$ Sure, he is loved by the unions and organizations

he caters to$,$ but he is not a builder, a mover or a shaker. You fix an economy and fix crime by moving

and shaking,$$ Lowman states loudly at the large crowds he brings to his rallies.

Nicholson is almost as unconventional as Lowman, and popular among many in the Silverlake area. Like

Lowman, he attracts huge crowds. He has been endorsed by several community organizations and labor

unions. The current mayor is another vocal supporter and says, $$Tim knows how to work with people.

He listens. Moreover, he will connect with people from various areas of expertise to attack all of our

problems. We don$$t fix problems by representing them as being larger than they actually are.$$ However,

he is just as passionate about how to address the city$$s youth gang activity in Silverlake as well as

maintaining control of any budget deficit. While Nicholson admits that he does not have the business

expertise of his opponent, he affirms that, $$governing a city is not the same as running a business!$$

He cites his ability to work with people from many different fields of expertise as the best way to

approach the city$$s problems and that $$Lowman$$s personality often gets in the way of his ability to work

with others.$$ He challenges Lowman$$s plan to develop the Silverlake area by stating that you only push

the crime problem to another place by just putting in hotels and restaurants. He also questions how

benefiting the developers guarantees that the city will benefit financially. $$We need to offer

opportunities to the young people of Silverlake. A community center in the neighborhood with

vocational training would be a good start. And we need to keep a healthy budget by working with

people from all fields in our city in cooperation, not just those who stand to profit financially.$$

Both candidates have strong support and the election will be close. Attendance at their rallies is highest this city has ever experienced in a mayoral race. Because each one has a radically different

platform, they do offer a real choice in how to address the city$$s problems. It would seem that mos voters have made their decision and come out to hear the campaign promises as a kind