Bilox Mayor Andrew Gillich to MSGOP: I think it’s absurd to try to out-Republican each other. It’s distracting. It’s self-defeating. It’s embarrassing.

This is the text of Mayor Andre "FoFo" Gillich's remarks on his first address in the council chambers.

Good afternoon, my fellow Demo— Republicans. Thank you for inviting me today.

I’m here to assure you that rumors of my party affiliation have been greatly exaggerated. And just to satisfy any lingering doubters let me say this:

“I pledge allegiance,
“To the Republican Party,
“And to the Republicans for whom it stands,
“One state, under Phil
“Occasionally divisible
“With endorsements not available to all.”

I hope all of you appreciate my sense of humor, because if you’re going to run for public office, you better have one.

I do want to thank this group for coming to my defense. And I’m not concerned at all that it came after the election. The state party needed to hear from you and I’m grateful for the message you sent.

These are challenging times for our party and we clearly have too much division. If we are going to be more effective, we’re going to have to get our own house in order. To do that, we have to start at the local level. Personally, I think it’s absurd to try to out-Republican each other. It’s distracting. It’s self-defeating. It’s embarrassing.

Former Biloxi Mayor Gerald Blessey Endorses Andrew Gillich for Biloxi Mayor

Among other things, Blessey writes: 

•  We need a business-savvy, high-tech entrepreneur leading Biloxi to fully recover from Katrina, recession, and BP oil spill -- and then beyond recovery into a diversified, 21st-century economy.

Read more here: http://www.sunherald.com/2015/05/02/6205474_gerald-blessey-gilich-honors-past.html?rh=1#storylink=cpy

• Thirty years ago, FoFo could have gone to Silicon Valley and struck it rich. Instead, FoFo's love of family and community motivated him to achieve the best of both worlds. In the 1980s, he started a computer-software company right here in Biloxi. When I was mayor, FoFo digitized the city's financial-management system and he went on to build a cutting-edge company serving school districts and businesses nationwide.

Entire article is HERE

Read more here: http://www.sunherald.com/2015/05/02/6205474_gerald-blessey-gilich-honors-past.html?rh=1#storylink=cpy