So today, a new Facebook page was put up by a grassroots movement to convince Wilmington’s Paul F. Calistro, Jr., the current Executive Director of West End Neighborhood House, to run for the Mayor of Wilmington in 2012 as a progressive alternative to the prospective candidates currently assembled. I am told that Calistro has a lot of support among he same progressive activists that supported Governor Markell in his primary race against John Carney in 2008.
To quote the as of yet unknown author of the Facebook page:
Paul Calistro is known throughout Wilmington as a strong community leader. Why? Because he gets people talking. He gets people thinking. He gets people together. His numerous accomplishments over the years as Executive Director of West End Neighborhood House speak volumes about his effectiveness and commitment to helping out his fellow citizens. Paul gets things done. He is constantly striving to meet new goals, from greening our community and making sure our streets are clean to improving the lives of our youth and supporting the endeavors of artists and small business owners.
Paul is one of the finest men I have ever known, and if he was to run for Mayor and win the office this City would continue to evolve for the better. If elected, he would inspire our city to even greater action. I want my City to be truly renowned as a place to be somebody, and I know that if Paul answers this call to service, we will all have the opportunity to be whomever we want to be–in a Wilmington that lives up to its full potential as a safe, welcoming, and livable community. […]
Paul Calistro is an inspirational force. Through the vehicles of Cornerstone West and West End Neighborhood House, he has led the revitalization of Wilmington’s West Side: through affordable housing (bringing over 100 new homeowners to our community), the Rodney Street Reservoir Community Garden (Winner at the DCH Garden Awards), and the Cool Spring Farmers Market. If what he has done for the West Side in any way parallels what he can accomplish for the entire city, Wilmington will truly become renowned as “A Place To Be Somebody”.
I don’t know much about Calistro, but I “liked” the page because I want to hear more. I am not endorsing him because how can you endorse someone who is not even running yet. But I want new and different candidates for the Mayorship of Wilmington. If you want that too, then do the same.