Happy New Year,
I wish you much joy and warm camaraderie this holiday season. The election is a little over a month and a half behind us and I would like to take the time to thank all of you, my family, my many friends, supporters and contributors, who made my first real run for council a success. Our success depended on people like you, who are as dedicated as I am to creating positive change for all Cincinnatians.  As an endorsed Democrat, I would like to thank the Hamilton Democratic Party and our Chair, Tim Burke. I would also like to thank my Democratic elected officials who showed so much support to me early on and continued to do so throughout this race: David Crowley, Todd Portune, Mark Mallory, Laketa Cole, Eric Kearney, Tyrone Yates, David Pepper, and John Cranley.  I am truly humbled by the huge outpouring of support that I received from many of the groups who endorsed me, including twenty-eight Unions, Equality Cincinnati, PAC, African American Fire Fighters PAC, Sentinels Police Assn PAC, Sierra Club, and many others. Thank you all. While I was competing with eight incumbents and five additional “virtual incumbents” we ran an energetic integrity-based campaign. We focused on addressing issues of pressing importance to our city, solutions to: Neighborhood Economic Development, poverty, inner-city youth despair, and our environment. We also focused on supporting homeownership, social services, the downtown core, and the arts.

               Given the tough field and record amounts of cash raised for many of the twenty-six candidates, I feel blessed to have raised over fifty-thousand dollars in my first run as an endorsed Democrat. Throughout the campaign, my mother, Patricia Garry, and my father, Jerry Crum, as well as my entire family, have been extremely supportive. I am grateful to my dedicated and outstanding campaign manager Eva Clarke, as well as to the over one-hundred volunteers, who staffed the office, worked the field and helped in so many other ways.  I am also very appreciative to Caleb Faux, the Executive Director of the Party, who was always there to guide us with advice and technical support.

                To our donors, who numbered over four hundred good people of Cincinnati, THANK YOU.  Without you, none of this would be possible.

Now that the election has passed, I have been spending more time with my children and family. I have also been growing my environmentally-responsible construction business during this time of  “Greening Cincinnati”.  I’m also planning Progressive Cincinnati, a broad-based city wide gathering of progressives this spring. To the many that have phoned and written encouraging words and inquiring about the future, I intend to return to run for Council in ’09 and will continue to build my base support in the mean time. 

I will, of course, appreciate any additional advice and support that you may offer along the way. My website remains up and our donate button remains functional J 

Again, thank you all for your generosity and support.  With your help I will have an ‘09 victory!

Wishing You the Warmest Holiday Season,