This campaign has not been easy. Rarely have I let anyone outside my close circle know how I feel about the opposition’s lies, hate, and deceptive tactics. I have not acknowledged their actions because I never want to appear defensive or combative; both actions you can find my opponent engaged in on various social media pages, and it’s not a good look. I have thrown my heart and soul into this campaign, trying to demonstrate to my fellow Odessans that the reason I am willing to take the flagrant abuse from my opponent, Denise Swanner, and the others, is because I truly LOVE Odessa.
For over 10 years I have shown up and “done the work” through my roles at the West Texas Food Bank and now Meals on Wheels of Odessa, as well as through service on dozens of other non-profit boards and committees and through countless hours volunteering. Over the years, I have spent a lot of time working in the community in a way unlike any current sitting council member.
During my campaign, I’ve met with hundreds of people and listened to dozens of conversations about what is going on with their lives, their kids, grandkids, houses, bills, empty cupboards, and on and on. Time and time again, after many emotional conversations, when our tears have dried and we’ve decided that a brighter future is possible, I have made a friend, and depending on their ability, most all of them have pledged to give back to my campaign in one way or another.
My new army of friends have taken social media by storm. They’ve been texting and calling friends and family to encourage them to vote, and most recently they have been out helping at the polls. Folks are so ready for a change, they are excited to help, and they want to be a part of this movement.
The opposition, it seems can’t even scare up more than a handful of volunteers without having to pay them, and although in her latest hit piece mailer about me Swanner claims to be running a clean, grassroots campaign, importing out-of-state, paid volunteers doesn’t sound very grassroots or homegrown to me. I find fascinating the Swanner/Matta/Joven crew are paying these folks to do these same jobs that I have people begging to help me with. The community sees through their lies and bully tactics and we are ready for a change.
Odessa is a kind and compassionate place where we take care of our own and watch out for each other. We are not a place that promotes their kind of hate and divisiveness. It’s time to take back Odessa, it’s time to silence the hate, and it’s time to show the opposition that WE are the ones who truly LOVE Odessa. My name is Craig Stoker, and I am asking for your vote for Odessa City Council At-Large.
Craig Stoker
