Will Webber decided to withdrawal from the District 1 Town Council Race. Below is a letter he delivered to the City of Newark Town Offices late on Friday. This note describes the reasoning for his withdrawal:
Hello Friends.
This email serves to alert my supporters and cohorts about a change in Will Webber’s political aspirations.
Over a period of years some friends and neighbors have encouraged me to represent them. I asked why and was told that the current District 1 Town Council Representative is not responsive. Really? We are neighbors and friends. Politically, Newark is six wedges of pizza-shaped geography and there is no reason for people to be “dismissive” which is a word that one of my neighbors used. A different neighbor has written emails to the current representative three times without a response. I also was told that the district 1 representative is the kind of “politician” who answers questions differently based on the audience or what the representative believes the questioner wants to hear.
I have no personal ax to grind. I have no personal experience that drives me to fight, to replace the incumbent, to be the new representative. I DO HAVE EXPERIENCE VICARIOUSLY when listening to friends and neighbors who implored me to do something! I guess people who know me are aware of my qualities … Honest … Tireless … Ethical … Practical … Sense of Humor … Very attached to my town. My sister says, “Ethical behavior is when you do the right thing, even if there is no chance you will ever be caught.” So wise.
This year, after giving this matter some thought, I entered the race to represent District 1. I was unopposed until there was a second contender.
Quite by coincidence, I had met the second contender. In conversation we found that we have similar views for Newark. We seek the same things. We fear the same issues. I discussed this with the second contender and looking at this political office from a strictly practical (from above) point of view, it occurred to me that the best move for me and for Newark would be for me to withdraw my name as a candidate. It is my belief that if I continued to run, I would be diluting important and finite available votes. I have come to believe that if I could take even one vote away from somebody who has such a similar point of view, it would be the WRONG thing for my town. (Ok, it is not all my town. I own one little part of it. Well, actually, the bank owns it and they let me live here). Anyway …
Fast forward to Wednesday 3-11-2015, at a meeting of supporters for the Joe Charma, the candidate who made his candidacy official after I did, I was invited to speak. At that time I addressed the “Friends of Joe Charma” and I chose to share my intentions to withdraw my name from consideration as representative (for a while). At the party I took the liberty of suggesting my friends and supporters will be well served if they convert to the Joe Charma side. I am so comfortable with this decision that I also said that I am available to Joe’s group to cooperate by drawing voters, allowing yard sign advertising, and other supportive measures that protect my town. Our town!
You are receiving this email as a blind copy so that everybody’s privacy is protected. You are receiving this email because it is important to keep friends in the loop when there is a change of plan. Keeping everybody current is my way to honestly (see above) share what happened and how I came to this decision.
I will print this email and sign it. Then this letter will be submitted to the City Offices so that my withdrawal is official, and my name will be removed from the ballot.
Comments are always welcome.
Thanks for a moment of your time.
www.WillWebberHomes.Com KW Realty Associate Broker/Owner
1318 Barksdale Road Newark, DE 19711 Phone 302-368-5400
Also: 56 West Main Street, Newark, DE 19702 | 302-738-2300.