An Open Letter to Bryan Residents
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
From day one, I have kept this campaign focused on what matters to District 1: our neighborhoods, our streets and infrastructure, responsible city spending, and Bryan’s future. That focus is not changing. But after hearing from residents at the October 13 City Council meeting and the October 19 candidate forum, there is something I need to say plainly.
Every Bryan resident should be free to support the candidate of their choice without feeling pressured or uncomfortable for doing so.
Signs go missing in every election. I have worked on about a dozen campaigns, and I expect some of that. What I did not expect was this. In early October, a volunteer checked 55 of my sign locations in the Palasota and Ben Milam area and found 23 signs missing and 9 replaced with my opponent’s signs – nearly 60% of my signs missing or replaced. Homeowners can change their minds, and I do not know who removed most of those signs.
What concerns me more are the experiences residents have shared. On October 13, three residents stood before City Council and described, in their own words, why they felt uneasy: a student campaign worker who had a truck pull uncomfortably close behind her while she placed an approved sign, a supporter that was told my signs “don’t belong here”, a family whose choice to display my sign was challenged at their home in an “extremely hostile” manner, and a volunteer who heard similar stories from others all across her neighborhood. It took courage to speak up. Their testimony is part of the public record, and I encourage you to watch it, review the supporting pictures they gave council and decide for yourself.
At the forum, Councilman Torres rejected the idea that anyone has been intimidated and said this election should be about public service. On that, we agree. And part of public service is making sure every resident feels free to take part, no matter whom they support.
Political expression lies at the heart of the First Amendment. The freedom to support a candidate and participate in the democratic process without fear of government retaliation is a fundamental constitutional protection. Not every troubling interaction constitutes a constitutional violation, but public officials have a particular responsibility to respect these freedoms.
So here is what I want every voter in District 1 to know: my supporters and I will not be intimidated, and we will not be pulled into a back-and-forth. If anything, these stories have made it even clearer that District 1 is ready for change.
Keep your signs up. Keep talking with your neighbors. And please vote.
Sincerely,
Chris Scotti Candidate for Bryan City Council, Single Member District 1