Hello everyone, it is with a heavy heart I write this. And I am shocked at what I am about to say.

I have always considered myself s kind and decent person. As a manager in the government I always gave mentally and physically challenged adults opportunities they had been denied for years. I fought for internal promotions rather than outside hiring to promote lower graded employees within the system. When I moved to Solivita I helped neighbors by watering their plants and looking after their homes when on vacation. I replaced and repaired thermostats, smoke alarms, and worked on air handlers. Friends and neighbors know they can call on me day or night to help them…not for a fee, or payment of any sort, simply because that is who I am. If I can help you I will!

In my community I played an instrumental role in getting Golf Cart Parking across from The Palms Pickleball Courts, and in securing the picnic tables and umbrellas by The Palms pickleball courts. I even played a role in getting some free-standing, moveable umbrellas at The Palms pool after I realized all the new umbrellas were coupled to the tables. And I quietly, and in my own way helped initiate other changes in our community such as being a second voice in helping our terrific Solivita Bocce Club President get bocce court repairs.

I wanted to do more, and do it on a larger scale, so I thought about running for government office. I consider myself a go-getter. Some people referred to me as “the mayor”. But if you become a public figure, eyes will be on you, Not everyone will agree or like you. Unfortunately, there are some very mean, nasty people in this world. I understand people getting into a heated argument and using profanity from time to time on hot topics. It may not be in the best of taste, but in the end, words are words.

Well, I recently learned, how truly mean and hurtful people can be to others. People who on the outside seem sweet and innocent, are not always what they seem to be. Besides mean, they can be vengeful and looking for opportunities to hurt anyone that associates with you, or likes you, and when the moment arises, they pounce! Without going into details, there are four people in my community do not like me, which is their prerogative. I tried to make peace with them, and I am always civil when I see them. But they are bullies. 

Bullies to the extent their actions caused my wife to come home in tears, beside herself, the other day. I never saw my wife so upset, hurt, and in such mental pain in the 50+ years I have known her, other than the day her mother died (who was truly a lovely lady whom I loved very much as well). 

It broke my heart!

To see my wife come home a mentally tattered woman because of the action of four bullies was painful. It brought me to tears, as it did for some of her other close friends. We were all devastated. And the icing on the cake–it was the day before her 70th birthday (which already was depressing her), and two days before the anniversary of her mother’s passing, which is always a hard time for her.

If bullies could do this to my wife, simply because they did not like ME, I can’t imagine what will happen if I actually started getting momentum on my political campaign. And I want to add, not only is my wife being targeted, I believe other friends of mine are being targeted as well. If you don’t like me, fine, but to hurt others for no other reason than they are married to me, or are my friend, is so wrong!

It is because of the possible collateral damage that could effect others, that I announce my withdrawal of trying to run for office…office of any type. I have thick skin, and can take it, but not everyone around me is as strong, and the last thing I want to do is see more people I love and care about suffer because of me.

TO THE BULLIES–you know you are, and I ask…does it make you proud to be a bully? Are you happy now that you made a grown woman cry? A woman who has been never been anything to you, but a nice, easy going friend?