My reflections on the ECDC mayoral forum

I was not on stage.

I was watching from the audience. I was not participating, I sat passive. I watched, listened, desperately attempting to set aside my true feelings in favor of objectivity. For sure I've been in this position before, on the outside looking in, but this felt very different.

I left before closing statements, because honestly I couldn't tolerate another word. It had been a long day, a long week, and I longed for something different; connection, my children, love, my family.

It was a very sweet sitting at home, kids piled in my lap; the chatter, playfulness, comfort. My children are my hope for the future, our potential as a community, and my driving force as a leader.

It wasn't hard to drift off to sleep, but a thought had been nagging me all night, "What was missing?"

I woke up, and the answer was clear to me. Almost everything we need was on stage last night, but something was definitely missing, the glue.

The Acting Mayor brings access, privilege, insight granted by his position, the power of incumbency.

The Councilmember brings confidence, connection with his constituents, courage and conviction. It was not the first time I've heard him voice his concerns or discontent.

The Commissioner brings heart, belief in the people, an authenticity and humanness so often lacking on the political stage.

The Senator brings experience, the continued support of the "machine" that first elevated him into politics and the faithfulness of those he has served over the years of doing his job.

All held attributes we can easily assign to the job of Mayor, but despite all of this, the missing element was leadership.

Leadership is our moral compass, directed by our values and beliefs. Leadership is the ability to anticipate issues before they arise based on the wisdom of previous experience or an innate ability to "hear" what people are really saying and feeling. Leadership is non-judgemental, accepting, and forgiving; it recognizes the struggle and the hardship. Leadership is conviction, fearlessness, unyielding hope in possibilities, not self promotion. Leadership is the willingness to fail, be held accountable, and accept responsibility when things don't go as you had hoped. Leadership is starting again, learning from your mistakes, never giving up, and believing in something greater than ourselves. Leadership is an unyielding belief in the common good, common decency, and our common responsibility to do good in the world. Leadership is a bullhorn, to inspire and create hope, to convene like minds, to work together. Leadership is elevating, enabling, opening doors, creating access. Leadership is action, to start, to create, to build, to plan, to envision our future bearing and trajectory. Leadership is the glue that enables the collective work of the head and the heart.

I will not back down because I believe what Buffalo needs more than anything right now is leadership. I have a vision for how we can move forward and create a more equitable, fair, healthful, inspiring, connected, accessible, and livable city for all of our neighbors. I have a belief in our ability to come together, to innovate, to solve problems with the resources, capacity, and human talent that we already have right here in Buffalo. When we succeed and demonstrate we're a city that has both incredible assets AND the leadership to support and enable our potential, then we will again be a city on the rise.

This is our moment of obligation. Get involved, learn more, let's work together. Not me, WE!