Subject:	thanks celdf.org - Voters Approve Westpikeland.org Referenda and Candidates
Date:	11/8/2006 12:01:37 P.M. Eastern Standard Time

Lindsay Brinton, one of the original founders of the National Historic
District, mailed a photocopy of an article from a national independent
press type magazine about a small organization in Chambersburg which
was helping communities in Pennsylvania and giving workshops across the
country on how to take back local government at the ballot box, and
restructure it for the benefit of that specific community. A very
radical idea I might add. Since I had already called every art,  
environmental, historic, governmental and tourism lead that could
possibly pertain to Concerned Citizens issue, and they all said the
same thing, "we agree with your cause, we would love to help, but
unless they are using county/state/federal/our grant money, we can't
get involved", I called Lindsay's lead also. Then in a matter of 8
hours, everything changed. I called the 'Community Environmental Legal
Defense Fund' and left a message.

So I want to especially thank Ben Price of CELDF for laying the blue
print for what everyone worked so hard to achieve. He called me back
that day, introduced Home Rule and Government Study concepts, I said
aha, called Ernie H. who was in discussion about the 5 supervisor
referendum with John Bravocos, they said aha, discussed back with Ben
Price and we had a liberal and conservative coalition of experts on
Home Rule Charter organized with Ernie's magic to get this rolling. I credit his

non-profit passion for social justice for making this victory possible, despite
our community demographics. Ernie and JB did Ok too.

John Mathews, Candidate-elect, Home Rule Government Study Commission