Can a person with a past felony conviction register to vote for government officials? Can any person be restored to normal citizenry once that person fulfills the punishment for the crime? Let's set the record straight, Mayor Gerry McCann is a registered voter in Jersey City and his God given inalienable rights are completely restored the same as any other American citizen.
The original settlers sailed to America in search of freedom and a second chance. America is a land of second chances. Some of the settlers racked up quite a criminal record, one settler's crime was so severe he would have been sentenced todeath if he had not come to America. It is not the American way to turn your back on a person who has paid his debt to society and asks for a second chance.
If Honorable Judge D'Italia gave Mr. McCann a second chance, thousands of Jersey City resident petitioners gave Mr. McCann a second chance, and the Jersey City government gave Mr. McCann a second chance by not appealing the decision thus adding him to the ballot, then how can the oppostiion place themselves above the law and the desire of Jersey Citiy citizens and question the legitimacy of Mr. McCann's right to run for re-electon. They know little about the fundamentals of what it is to be an American and they certainly don't understrand the beliefs of the average Jersey City resident. The people of Jersey City know that M.r McCann's second chance is legitimate, and they willingly and enthusiastically gave it to him.
The opposition claims that he wants to spare Jersey City the embarrassment of having Mayor McCann removed from the office once re-elected.The truth is that he knows that the people want Mayor McCann and he knows that Mayor McCann will win. The opposition says Jersey City needs a role model and common sense dictates not to have a convicted felon in public office. This prejudice statement is a personal one and is not based on the law.
McCann as Mayor, could be a role model to the world, by becoming a living example that America is a land of second chances. By taking Mr. McCann off the ballot they are saying the govenrment and the voters of Jersey City do not have enough common sense to decide for themselves if Mayor McCann should be re-elected. They demonstrated dictatorship and not leadership.They should have let the people decide!
Thomas J. Monteleone
Councilman Candiate
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