I am Lester D. Stone, and I am a candidate for the 4th Ward Council seat. In the last edition of City Pulse, there was an article on me and my opponent.
It was well written, clearly demonstrating Mr. Schwartz's desire to provide a fair, objective portrait of both of us. Two issues were raised in the article to which I did not, during my interview with Mr. Schwartz, have an opportunity to respond. I am grateful for this opportunity to do so.

First, my opponent's supporter cricitized me as being "confrontational." Her reference is to what we did during the March for Justice, which utilized the method of direct action. She doesn't know me. As a member of City
Council, I will work with the mayor, City Council members, city officials and others. I will be honest and fair with them. I will be a creative, innovative councilmember, bringing fresh and new ideas. My goal will be to
build coalitions for positive results, as I have done successfully in the past.

Secondly, my opponent charged that I only work with one group of people. As a pastor and leader in Lansing, I have been a coalition builder who has worked with many different people and groups. I served on Chief Okemos
Council #271 Urban Advisory Council of the Boys Scouts 1984. I served as co-chair of an Interracial Church Conference on the Life and Thought of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. sponsored by the Pastors Conference and the School for Ministry, 1987. The event was held at the Central United Methodist Church in downtown Lansing.

I served on the boards of directors of the Black Child and Family Institute and Camp Highfields. I was a member of the Neighorhood Liaison Subcommittee of the Capital Revitalization Project in 1986, the Statewide
Advisory Committee of Michigan University during the tenure of Dr. John Dibiaggio, and the Advisory Committee of First of America Bank.More than 30 organizations endorsed and supported the March for
Justice. including the NAACP, Peace Education Center, Mid-Michigan Unity Coalition, and others. I am presently a member of Church, Community, and Labor Alliance and Executive Committee of the NAACP.

Just recently I shared the podium with Dr. Peter McPherson and other religious leaders during an interfaith service at Wharton Center in the Great Hall in memory of the victims and families of terrorist attacks. I am a member of the Ingham County Democratic Party, which has endorsed me. As a Council member, I will be a voice for all the citizens in the 4th Ward, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, age, economic status or physical disability.