Successful reception energizes campaign

Almost 100 supporters and potential supporters, friends and family members gathered with my team and me last night at a campaign reception at the Westwood Plateau Golf & Country Club. The photos show some of the gathering.

It was a great success! Bringing so many concerned and involved citizens -- including four members of city council -- together to talk politics and campaign strategy or simply to network and get to know one another made for a memorable evening. My thanks go out to my team and to everyone who attended.

One of the many highlights for me was the short speech I was able to deliver. Upon conclusion, I realized that it was the first actual political campaign speech I'd ever delivered. Yes, I've given dozens of political addresses in the past, but they were all as a journalist looking at or analyzing politics. This one was different because I'm now actually running for office.

The audience gave me a great reception, including several bursts of applause during the speech and enthusiastic applause upon conclusion.

I've included many of the themes that I touched on in the address in an e-mail I've been sending out this morning to supporters and potential supporters. Here's the text:

Hello Coquitlam Voters,

We’re in the home stretch now! Just two weeks are left until the Coquitlam Council by-election on May 15. And we’re closer yet to the Advance Polls:

 May 5, at Poirier Community Centre, 630 Poirier Street.
 May 8 at Pinetree Community Centre, 1260 Pinetree Way.
 May 12 at Poirier Community Centre, 630 Poirier Street.

All polls are open 8 a.m. til 8 p.m.

I hope that, by now, you’ve had time to consider which candidate to support. And, of course, that you’ve chosen me. If so, thanks very much. Every vote is crucial in what is shaping up to be a tight race.

Over the past several weeks, I’ve met hundreds of residents during my daily walks through Coquitlam neighbourhoods. Rain or shine, I’ve listened, taken notes, and promised to act responsibly to find solutions.

If you’re still undecided, please check out my website at www.terryoneill.ca, and you’ll see that I stand firmly for fiscal responsibility, action on transit issues, better strategies for dealing with street-level crime, and a commonsense approach to the homeless problem.

You might also want to read my blog, http://electterryoneill.blogspot.com, where you can find my insights on campaign-related news and other issues.

I’ll also be attending three all-candidates meetings next week. They take place:

 May 4, 7 p.m. at David Lam Campus of Douglas College, Lecture hall A1470 (sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce);
 May 5, 7 p.m. at Place Maillardville, 1200 Cartier Ave. (sponsored by the Maillardville Residents’ Association);
 May 6, 7 p.m. at Banting Middle School, (sponsored by the Burquitlam Community Association).

Please let me know by return email if you have any questions or need help in getting out to the polls. Thanks for taking the time to get involved!

Terry O’Neill
Involved. Trusted. Accountable.