Obviously, this ideal is strained by the harsh narrative that serve as a backdrop for our daily reality.  What is happening right now on the federal level is horrifying.  A non stop, display of fear mongering, chaos, and confusion; a conscious strategy to further intensify the growing divide between us.  There is responsibility on both sides, in both parties, for where we are today. 

But there is no place for this type of partisanship on the local level.  Here the primary focus of our Mayor and City/County officials should be squarely focused on improving quality of life.  It should be about bringing people together.  It should be a collaborative, unified vision for Buffalo's future. 

This past weekend I sat on the stage next to acting Mayor Scanlon, when our County Executive posed a question to the panel.  Will you pursue the Conservative Party line if you do not receive the Democratic endorsement?  It was prefaced with the left's own version of fear mongering and the question was clearly intended to alienate, jab, and corner the acting mayor, in an attempt to gain favor with party committe people.  This tactic seemed particularly hypocritical given the party's cross endorsement (with the Republican Pary) of State Supreme Court justices in the most recent election. 

Personally, I have no patience for this brand of petty, politics perpetuated under the guise of 'party loyalty'.  Can we please have a campaign focused on bringing the best ideas and the strongest vision to the forefront of the debate?  Can we please talk about issues of importance?  How do we create healthy, inspiring neighborhoods in all corners of our City?  How do we increase our tax base to guarantee quality services to all of our residents?  How do we create and share with the world that Buffalo is a City where you want to live, start a business, raise your family?  How do we bring together our business, entrepreneurial, university, not for profit, and political communities to work collaboratively for one vision?

Over the past 20 years, I've been on the receiving end of bitter, divisive, punitive political leadership and the only loser with this approach of governance is the people.  If we can't create a unified, focused, political movement on the local level, how will we have any hope of closing the divide some day nationally?  For me, the answer is simple:  lead by example.  Let's work together to creat a new vision, a stong vision, an inspiring vision for the future of Buffalo and let's do it together.