‘The dawn of new opportunity’
Mayor Brent Warr delivered his farewell address this morning to local business leaders during the Gulfport Chamber’s ‘Breakfast with the Mayor.’ The prepared text of the speech follows quotes from two other well-known leaders who spoke about Mayor Warr and the past four years.
“Well done.”— Mayor-elect George Schloegel
“He faced the greatest challenge in this city’s history.”— Local attorney John Harral
The following is Mayor Brent Warr’s farewell address to Gulfport, June 17, 2009:
Good morning.
This is nearly the 20th time I will speak to you during breakfast, and I am honored to stand here before you today for what is my final meal with you as the mayor of Gulfport.
I am filled with gratitude for the four years I have spent as your mayor. Laura and I are forever grateful for the opportunity you have given us to serve.
I’ve been doing a lot of reflecting recently, and as I look back over the four years that we have been together, I am struck by what we have gone through and how far we have come.
Like all who have held this office before me, we have experienced setbacks, and there is legitimate debate about decisions we have made and steps we have taken.
But there can be little debate about the results.
Gulfport has grown a lot in the past four years, and in many ways, each of us has grown as individuals.
We are a more resilient and service-minded people, and our city is stronger because of it.
The hurricane, which has defined my term in office, taught us all a great deal.
It took a lot of hard work and great sacrifice, but since the summer of 2005, the people of Gulfport have stood up, freed themselves of the shackles of storm recovery and now can see the dawn of new opportunity.
To the members of my administration who have poured their heart and soul into rebuilding this city, I say thank you.
I will never forget your devotion and dedication. Your city will never forget.
This office, as great as it is, is only as great as the men and women who work for and with the mayor. Thank you for the sacrifices you all have made to serve in government.
For the past four years each of you has laid it all on the line, everyday, because you believe in a cause greater than yourselves, the cause of making this city one of the greatest cities in America.
I cannot name them all, but I would be grateful if you would allow me a moment to recognize at least a few of them now.
Police Chief Alan Weatherford, your city is grateful for its safe streets, the safest they’ve been in more than 30 years, and your dedication to community relations has been the key.
Fire Chief Pat Sullivan, your expertise in so many areas is priceless.
Mike Necaise, it hasn’t been easy, but your ability to juggle numbers has kept us afloat. Thank you.
Dr. John Kelly, your remarkable wisdom and firm guidance has kept me focused and on the right path. We would not have gotten this far without you.
And to my assistant, Rebecca Kajdan, your extraordinary magic is what keeps this city going. You are an angel and the labor you have made on behalf of the City of Gulfport will never be forgotten.
I also want to thank my partner in this journey, the one woman who brings great joy to my heart even in the darkest of hours, the rock of our family, and the love of my life, my wife Laura. She has put up with a lot in the past four years, and I will never be able to thank her enough.
To my children, Noah and Emma, and my parents, I love you all very much.
And to you, the people of Gulfport: We have all been through a lot together.
But I believe that the tests we have been put through have only made us stronger.
True greatness comes not when things always go well, but instead, greatness comes when you are really tested, when you stare adversity in the face, when you think you can’t possibly go any farther and yet still manage another step, when you can’t possibly deal with another FEMA trailer or talk with another insurance adjuster, but you continue to push on.
Only until we have each walked through the darkest valley can we truly enjoy the sunshine atop the highest mountain.
We’ve been through the valley and with each passing day we are getting closer to the top of the mountain. The road ahead is rocky, but we will get there.
I leave this office profoundly proud of the people who have stood by us, worked with us and served this city, under the most demanding circumstances and often times at great risk.
I leave in good spirit, with a sense of deep humility and great pride, and with high hopes for our future.
And as I stand here, in the fading twilight of my term in office, I want you to know that this is not an ending.
But rather, it is a new beginning, a new beginning for me, a new beginning for my family and a new beginning for the City of Gulfport.
This is a moment of great hope and promise for our young city.
The future is bright, and when I pass on the responsibilities of this office on to Mayor Schloegel, Gulfport will be in good hands.
The decades ahead will bring new challenges and tough decisions for our city, and the same basic principles that guided us through the past four years must continue to shape our future course.
Our resiliency and courage, hope and generosity must endure.
These are the virtues I have witnessed during my time in office, and they are the virtues that give me an unshakable faith in Gulfport.
It has been the honor of my life to serve as your mayor. Every day I have been inspired by the grace of our people and the greatness of our city, and as a private citizen I will use that inspiration to continue working for a better Gulfport.
I leave this office more hopeful and optimistic than the day I arrived and more confident than ever that Gulfport’s best days lie ahead.
Thank you. May God bless you, and may God bless the City of Gulfport.
Office of Public Information – rlafontaine@gulfport-ms.gov – Phone: 228-868-5782
P.O. Box 1780 Gulfport, MS 39502-1780 – FAX: 868-5800