The voters in the city of Riverside have selected several new leaders for the next two years, while San Bernardino will complete the process Tuesday when they fill the position of mayor.

The citizens of San Bernardino have two attorneys to choose from – o­ne is the current city attorney while the other has pulled off his robe as judge to seek the office of mayor. Their approach to governing is strikingly different and their approach to reducing crime is worthy of the voters' attention.

In a statement in the San Bernardino Sun, the current city attorney is attributed as saying: “you want the mayor to say, I will send the cops out there right now and they will shoot the dogs,” in reference to criminals in the city.  Now I don't think he really meant to shoot first and ask questions later, but we (Blacks) have witnessed that kind of law and order authority before. Of course we didn't believe the police would turn water hoses o­n Black people in Alabama and police would shoot a young Black teenager locked in a car needing medical help. o­nce the green light is given it will be difficult to get them to stop o­n red.

The judge, however, has said his approach is to arrest the criminals, give appropriate sentences to the guilty and offer rehabilitation to those who want rehabilitation, create jobs, increase homeownership, improve our schools, and involve a diversity of citizens in the planning process of the city.

But whatever approach resonates with you, in order to see your candidate elected you must vote. I want to encourage everyone to encourage others to vote. I hope Pastor Robert Fairley of New Hope MBC, Pastor Anthony Hughes of St Paul AME, Pastor Ray Turner of Temple MBC and president of IECAAC, Pastor Josh Beckley of Ecclesia, Pastor Reginald Woods of Life Changing Ministries, Pastor Anthony Paschal of 16th SDA, Pastor Phillip Powell of The Christian Center, Pastor Lenton Lenoir, of Holy Land COGIC, Apostle M. P. Sterling of Kingdom of God Apostolic and others inform their members that Tuesday is election day in the city of San Bernardino. Now I know you cannot tell them who to vote for but I can. Vote Morris for Mayor.

As for our business owners, remind your customers that Tuesday is Election Day in the city of San Bernardino. I know some of you cannot tell people who to vote for like Bobby Ray of Bobby Ray's Barbeque but I can. Join Bobby Ray and vote for Morris for Mayor.

As for educators of our children, I know you don't want to show partiality to our children but you can inform them to tell their parents to vote o­n Tuesday. For your information, School Board members, Dr. Elsa Valdez, Teresa Parra, Tony Dupre, Danny Tillman, and Lynda Savage think Pat Morris is the o­ne to help improve our schools, I think so too. Vote Morris for Mayor.

We have seen, heard, and read of discord at city hall for the past several years with most of the attention focused o­n the city attorney. This kind of climate is not good for employees to work or for businesses that want to do business in the city. Mayor Judith Valles and current city council members Esther Estrada, Susan Lein Longville, Gordon McGinnis, Rikke Van Johnson and newly elected Dennis Baxter think Morris can help reduce that discord. We think that also and want to join them by voting Morris for Mayor.

Let us do our part and vote this Tuesday and remember for those who can't tell you who to vote for we can, vote Pat Morris for Mayor in San Bernardino.