Candidates don’t often have nice things to say after losing such close elections, but I do. Some of my friends and volunteers have asked me how do I remain positive after the things that were done and said during this campaign for mayor. The answer is – I kept my honor.

I am thankful to be serving the residents of Sumner on our council over the past six years because I believe this community is worth protecting no matter what happens to me or what people say. Choices need to be offered and principles fought for, no matter the material or personal cost.

It makes me proud to have stood for the values so many of us share in this community. My campaign was clean, informative, honest, issue-based and supported with evidence for the public to consider before casting their vote. I am also very proud that every politically motivated accusation against me has been proven to be unfounded, and I am still standing. I can assure you the media did their homework on this one. This is why Sumner wins.

Thank you needs to go out to The News Tribune, The Puyallup Herald and our own Bonney Lake-Sumner Courier Herald for putting the issues on a pallet for us to understand so we could compare the candidates and the issues head to head. Without their dedication, we wouldn’t have a clue what the right direction should be.

For my own part, it is a known fact I am very active on our city council and constantly promote our priorities in the region and on the Pierce County Regional Council. I make no apologies for my dedicated approach to policy issues that affect our quality of life. I take it very seriously because the problems we face are becoming more and more difficult every year.

As we head down this road for the next four years I promise to continue working with our council and the mayor with an open hand and an open mind. For Sumner’s sake, I hope that respect will be returned. After all, we have been working together for a long time now and have made many great improvements.

In this election, 65 percent of the registered voters in Sumner did not cast a ballot on Nov. 3. The race for mayor may be decided by just 80 votes, which represents just a few neighborhoods here and there. With all the issues at stake and reminders to vote, where were you on election day?

In closing I will pose a challenge to the residents of Sumner. If you don’t like a particular mailer, don’t check out, vote for the other candidate. If nothing interests you on the ballot, vote for the local race because it’s the closest your vote will ever get to home, and home is where they really count.

Sumner is our home (and the same for you Bonney Lakers up there), so everything you do at the ballot box affects you personally. If nothing else, vote out of respect for the millions of Americans who have died to make sure you have this right. That’s what it means to be an American. That’s why win or lose, I am thankful.

Matt Richardson

Sumner