George Fitch: "Cool Runnings?"
By: Lowell
Published On: 2/9/2005 2:00:00 AM
Like the famous Jamaican bobsled team he founded in the 1980s, Warrenton Mayor George Fitch starts his race against Jerry Kilgore as a decided underdog but popular/grassroots favorite. Just as in the case of the Jamaicans, Fitch knows that "there are those who have dismissed my candidacy," but he also knows that fighting for what you believe in can be inspirational to millions.
In the Jamaicans' case, it was bobsledding. In Fitch's case, it's running against heavy favorite, the former Atty. General (and now full-time money grubber) Jerry Kill-more (aka Kilgore) for Virginia governor on a platform of "tax relief, a more efficient state government, more control for local governments and conservation of open space, clean water and historic heritage." Both Fitch and the bobsledders faced struggles -- uphill in Fitch's case and downhill in the Jamaican bobsled example. Unfortunately for Fitch, if this parallel continues it's not all good news, though, because as we all know the Jamaicans lost big-time in their first Olympics appearance (they lost again, but by a lesser margin, in their second Olympics in 1992).
The question for Fitch, then, is how precisely he'll follow the course of his beloved Jamaican bobsled team. Will his candidacy crash due to inexperience, lack of money, and a ruthless foe? Or will he rise above it all and pull a major upset, possibly providing Disney with an excuse for a sequel to "Cool Runnings," its movie about the bobsled team. Will Fitch live up to the immortal words of Chris Stokes, a member of the 1988 team that inspired the movie, when he spoke at Fith'ss announcement ceremony this Tuesday:
"Every now and again you meet people who, through their courage and vision and commitment, do things that change the world," Stokes said. "George is such a man."
Well, that may be a bit overblown, but we here at RaisingKaine certainly look forward to finding out. We hope that, at the minimum, George Fitch gives Jerry Kilgore, in true Jamaican bobsled team fashion, a "cool" run for his money!
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