It's a sad thing that I cannot in good conscience support a Democratic candidate for office.

[CTyankee]

I never thought that would happen. But my city's Democratic mayor has driven me away from him and I cannot support him in this year's re-election bid.

Recently, the mayor threated the city's unions with layoffs all over the city (including schools, parks, elderly services, homeless, family services) unless they agreed to let him "privatize" the janitors. Their union said "no." He laid off a bunch of people that help some of the city's most vulnerable citizens. The union did the right thing. I shudder to think of what the people who sweep the floors and clean the toilets in public buildings would be paid in a privatized situation.

His incompetence in handling the promotions for firefighters,which resulted in the "reverse discrimination" case just heard by the Supreme Court, may deeply hurt the cause of affirmative action. He created a terrible mess that he could have avoided by using a testing system that truly works with the goals of affirmative action. He has re-ignited the flames of racial discord by his administration's stupidity. His name is on that case and it may be his "legacy" to the nation as a whole. Thanks a lot.

Of course, I will not vote for a Republican candidate but the Republicans may not run a candidate against him anyway. There is one other: a declared Green Party candidate. It may be my only option if I don't want to "sit out" the election entirely.

This is causing me lots of angst as a proud, lifelong Democrat. I am planning to work hard for my Democratic alderman and do whatever else I can for my party. I'm pretty sad about this...