John Sims, Cooper City Commissioner - Inaugural Speech March 27, 2007

“Moving Ahead Together”

Inaugural Commission Speech

Commissioner John B. Sims

March 27, 2007

Madam Mayor, Commissioner Kleiman, Commissioner Roper, Commissioner Mallozzi, City Manager Ferrell, Assistant City Manager Bernard and fellow citizens, Good Evening. It is my honor to serve as the next District 1 Commissioner for Cooper City .

Tonight I come before you as man, humbled to have been chosen for this task. The mandate given to Commissioner Mallozzi and myself on March 13th was both shocking and staggering.

But, the campaign is over, the election is complete, and the people have spoken. And now, tonight, we must close this chapter on our history and begin to craft a new one-------together.

Together as a commission, we must continue to build on the solid foundation laid by our predecessors. That is going to take unswerving commitment from all of us. The philosophical differences that have separated us until now must be used to energize us as we go forward.

All of us on this dais bring different strengths, views and methodologies to the job. That’s good for the City.

To all of you on the Commission, I vow to work along side of each you for the common good of Cooper City .

Together we can move ahead to impact our community in a positive way.It’s time to bury the past and look with hope and optimism to the future.

Tonight, I also make the commitment to work together with the great organizations in our city. Organizations such as the Optimist Club, the Davie-Cooper City Rotary Club, the Kiwanis Club and the Davie-Cooper City Chamber of Commerce, to name just a few.

We cannot and should not ignore the deep and lasting contributions that these organizations, as well as many others have made, and continue to make to our great City. Their selfless acts of giving back to our community will be felt for generations to come.

Finally, and most importantly, I will work together with our citizens to make our community more than “Someplace Special.”

To those citizens who voted for me, I say thank you from the bottom of my heart.

I am honored.

To those of you who didn’t vote for me, I will work hard to earn your respect. To all of you, I welcome honest dialogue and forthright questions as we work together.

The city belongs to you---the people. You have let your voice be heard, but this is only a start.

I urge you---continue to let your voices be heard. Speak out when you have the opportunity.

Take interest in the decisions that are made, and let all of us know your thoughts. Let’s work together, for there is much to do.

Finally, I would like to thank all of those who labored tirelessly on my campaign. When things got tough, you still believed in what we were doing, and our vision for the city.

You didn’t waver----you stayed the course. And tonight I am here---thanks to you.

Now, it is time for all of us to go to work---together! So to my fellow commissioners and citizens, I ask you to pick up the pen with me.

And let’s begin to write that new chapter together. The best for Cooper City is yet to come.

Thank You.

John Sims