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Goow: “I was given an opportunity and a second chance” | Paterson Times

Goow: “I was given an opportunity and a second chance”

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I have spent the past three decades raising a family, building a business, and working to improve our Paterson communities.  I am proud of those accomplishments.  In 2002, I spoke at an expungement seminar to help young men get a second chance in life hosted by 4th Ward Councilwoman Vera Ames Garnes.

I shared with them my own story as a young man and how I received a second chance through the expungement program.

I have never hidden from it – I have shared it as a positive example of possibilities.  I owed it to these young men to help them build their futures.  I told these young men that “if I can do it, so can you.”

I believe I gave those young men hope since I was serving as an elected member of the City Council, as a trained police officer, and as a private investigator licensed by the State of New Jersey.

America believes in redemption. Redemption has been granted to many people who have turned their lives around – including police officers, fire fighters, judges, and many elected officials, and, yes, myself. But with redemption also comes responsibility.

A responsibility to live our lives with integrity and to help our youth rebuild their futures. I have striven to do that, I believe I have made a difference in their lives, and I will continue to do so as Mayor.

I believe that God offers forgiveness to every person who seeks it with a sincere and repentant heart. I ask God to continue to give me the strength to fight for what is right and to fight against the petty political retaliation that I face as I work to lift up our City.

While others will attack me and the integrity of expungement programs for political advantage, I choose to build opportunity and second chances for our City – because I was given an opportunity and a second chance.

For those who want a candidate who pretends to be perfect, they should support someone else. They will eventually be let down. I seek the seat of Mayor not because I am perfect, but because I am a Patersonian.

I seek the seat of Mayor because I have lived through the very challenges that our residents face. I know how a young man can make a mistake and I know how a grown man can make it right in his community after 30 years.

I know how a City can suffer for decades but can grow and prosper once again.  Like myself, Paterson [can] turn around and flourish with a second chance.

  • Dave Gilmore

    That is a great message… Still we must find out how the records or information was abused by some unscrupulous people? They have knowingly or not put the whole expungement program at risk…

    • http://www.facebook.com/animalabusewar Animal Abuse War

      It was a rotten thing to do. especially to anyone who completely turned their life around and spent and continue to spend their life serving their community and making it better. I hope the ones who did this are all caught and prosecuted to the fullest extent. If it was demanded by another candidate,may their political career be permanently ruined for stooping to such a low tactic.

  • http://www.facebook.com/animalabusewar Animal Abuse War

    What an excellent and encouraging article.a much needed mentor,and great example,who has been there and done that,for those seeking to lead a good life from this point on.

  • Marcal Mills

    Thief will always be a thief! !!!!!!

  • JOHNNY

    MR. MILL, PEOPLE CHANGE AND GOOW HAS DONE A GREAT JOB WITH THE 2ND WARD.

    OUR VOTE WILL BE FOR ASLON GOOW WE HAVE SEEN HIM AT WORK, AND HE GETS THE JOB DONE.

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