Dear Friends,

On election day, a boy who lives on one of Harrisburg's forgotten streets asked me, "Mr. Smith, if you don't win today, will you still be MY mayor?"

That question, and all the meaning it contains, remains at the heart of this campaign and this candidate.

Although Mayor Reed would like to pretend away our efforts and your voice, what you accomplished yesterday was just the first skirmish in the battle for change in Harrisburg.

We fought honorably, and have much to be proud of.

• We ran a positive campaign of ideas—and over 500 people downloaded the 30-page Harrisburg 2.0 plan. We created a blueprint for long-term development of our city, neighborhood by neighborhood.

• We assembled a platform for change that is widely supported throughout the city. People want safe, clean streets. They want lower taxes. They want control of their schools. They want public process. They want it now.

• We connected with people throughout our city, on streets that have been forgotten. We gave them hope, and we will never abandon them.

• And in the final days, when Reed went negative and attacked my character, our campaign stayed positive. We will always stay positive, and meet negativity with solid facts a smile.

In the end, exceptionally low voter turnout made victory impossible. But the vision and the people who were assembled through this effort were undefeated.

Your fight will go on.

We will press on to check the Mayor's absurd plans for a Wild West museum. We will fight for a return of our schools to parental control. And we will advocate for open public process—for a city hall that reflects rather than deflects our community.

I deeply appreciate your support. Thank you for having the courage to vote for change. Even though Reed would like to ignore you, your vote and your voice counted.

In the months ahead, may our voices become a mighty roar.

Forward we go,

Jason N. Smith