Trusted. Tested. Proven.
On January 26, 2008, Barbara McIlvaine Smith gave the following speech to the Chester County Democratic Committee's Nominating Convention at Stetson Middle School, West Chester, PA.
I stand before you today to accept your nomination and to officially announce that I am running for reelection as State Representative in the 156th District.
I chose to make my announcement here in front of you, the people who worked so tirelessly to make my 2006 election such a success, winning by all of 28 votes. Next time I am confident we will win by a far greater margin!
Recently a group of us from the district got together to talk about messaging; what is our message this time around? We brainstormed and came up with many ideas and a few slogans. One slogan in particular struck a chord in me:
TRUSTED. TESTED. PROVEN.
I believe, as Henry Clay said so long ago, Government is a trust, and the officers of the government are trustees. And both the trust and the trustees are created for the benefit of the people.
I want to thank you, and all of the eleven thousand six hundred sixteen voters, who put their trust in me. I promise to continue to earn that trust each and every day that I serve.
I believe that without trust we cannot move this country or our great state forward. And trust cannot be achieved without communication.
As I pledged in 2006, I have reached across the aisle to find like-minded colleagues to work on common goals.
And as so many of you know, last year I was tested, beyond belief.
It was not easy, but I believe that through persistence and determination and the support of a great many friends and family, I was able to stand strong and speak truth to power. I promise to continue to speak that truth and to continue working on transforming politics in Harrisburg, along with leaders like Josh Shapiro and Mike Gerber.
I know full well this is a marathon, not a sprint!
And I have proven that I can do the job and do it well, in spite of all the difficulties.
In 2006, I promised to take on the tough issues, to reach across party lines to find consensus builders, to push those issues I believe are key, like Healthcare, Education, and the Environment.
I have worked with Republicans to craft bipartisan legislation, and in spite of the slow progress in Harrisburg, two of my bills passed off the House floor, one unanimously.
I’ve also lived up to my pledge to refuse any raise in pay during my term and to refuse a state car; I take public transportation, riding the train back and forth from Harrisburg.
Therefore, my message this time around is almost the same as last:
I firmly believe that government was created “by the people, for the people” in order to achieve “the greatest good for the greatest number.” I believe we the people deserve:
- Affordable access to health care for all Pennsylvanians.
- Increased state funding for public education to ensure all our children receive the best education possible.
- A cleaner, healthier environment so our families can be well and benefit from a high quality of life.
Finally, as a grandmother, I want to believe when I look into the eyes of my four-year-old granddaughter, that the world I leave her is better than the one I was given. I want her to be able to trust that the air she breathes, the water she drinks and the food she eats is healthy; that the best education will be provided to her so that she will have an equal opportunity, and that if she gets sick, her parents will be able to access affordable healthcare that will help make her well again.
These are the bedrock principles I believe in.
I ask you once again to put your trust in me.
Thank you.
