1st Ward City Council Candidate Tom Bozikis Speaks Out On Civic Virtures

Dear CCO Readers

Historically speaking virtue has been linked with personal integrity, honesty, and trust.  A person’s actions must match their speech.  It seems that society has made a determination that personal accountability doesn’t matter as long as a person’s politics matches a particular political bias, and so we sacrifice virtue for expediency.

I don’t believe that personal virtue can or should be separated from, “civic virtue.”  If a public figure can be unvirtuous in their private life, what makes us think that they won’t be ingenuous and unvirtuous in their public persona?  We have to ask ourselves what is that kind of virtue that makes for a good public servant?

First, I don’t use the term servant lightly. According to Jesus, when his disciples were discussing whom would be the “greatest” in the Kingdom, Jesus said that whoever would be the greatest among them, must be the servant of all. He also explained that those in authority were not to, “lord it over” those whom they were to serve.

Second, a virtuous person is humble.  It is especially difficult for those of us in the public arena to express humility, and if we’re not careful, events have a way of humbling us.

Finally, virtuous people show integrity.We don’t always do things right, and so when that’s revealed to us, we should be quick to acknowledge our error, and be quick to apologize. We need to take steps not to repeat the offense, but take those steps in humbleness and sincerity. According to 2 Peter 1:5 – 7 “5 For this very reason make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge,

6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness,

7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.

Sincerely,

Tom Bozikis

1st Ward City Council Candidate