After reading the deeply moving and authentic cover page articles about Attorney Justin Hurst in last month’s AF-AM Point of View Community News Magazine, I felt compelled to share my own perspective, feelings, and connection with Justin.
Justin Hurst: Where do I start? At the beginning, I guess. Prior to my 2017 city council candidacy, I was acquainted with Justin only due to his status as a city councilor. While I had had a few interactions with him and had heard various perspectives about him – some positive, others skeptical, and a few critical – it wasn’t until 2017 that I truly came to know him as an individual for myself.
Throughout that campaign season, Justin provided more encouragement to me than any of the other 13 candidates. He consistently engaged in conversations with me and offered words of support, such as “Keep Grinding,” “You’re really making me work!” and “I love your energy and passion.” For someone with no prior political experience, his encouragement meant a great deal. I said to myself, “I like this guy!”
However, we did have our one moment of–let’s say “contention” –when I was sworn onto the council. In truth, we only had one significant disagreement which stemmed from MY general distrust of politicians.
As time passed and I gained firsthand experience in politics, I found myself drawn to Justin for his thorough research, unwavering integrity, and his willingness to challenge the status quo–even if he had to stand alone! I didn’t understand how that truly felt until now. With Justin off the council, I, at times, feel as though I’m experiencing the same thing. But like Justin always says, I will “keep pushing!”
Coming from a non-political background, I initially had little understanding of the inner workings of politics. However, I quickly learned about the prevalence of backdoor deals, the illusion of power dynamics, and the true extent of underhandedness within the system. It’s astonishing how people often are not who they appear to be in this arena. If I could offer any advice, it would be to pay attention to people’s current actions rather than dwelling on their past actions or words. People do change! While it can be a disappointing truth, it’s important to recognize that people change and sometimes not for the good.
But not Justin! He has been consistent from the day we met. Alongside his wife Denise, their sons, and the entire family community, they embraced me and my family with open arms, making us feel like a cherished extended family of their own family. Their warm and inclusive home environment feels like a fun sanctuary, devoid of judgment. Their genuine care and love for others is evident. Witnessing this, I became firmly committed to Justin as “My Mayor.” The positive transformation I saw in Justin only reinforced my belief in him. He became even more actively engaged in the community, transitioning from a research-focused approach to one driven by a deep commitment to serving the community.
Long before his official announcement as a mayoral candidate, I spoke of my belief that he should be Mayor in many public arenas, including my own campaign kickoff. That belief remains the same today. I firmly and truly believe that he embodies the genuine qualities needed to transform our city. He is a person of faith, deeply rooted in family values, innovative in his approach, diligent in his work, unwavering in integrity, compassionate, empathetic, and receptive to others’ viewpoints even when they differ from his own. But what truly draws me to Justin above all else is Trust!
Justin galvanized new people like I have never seen before in my political career! From the young to the seasoned, people of all races and religions united behind Justin. It’s evident that there’s a collective yearning for change and as the song goes, “A Change Is Gonna Come!”
Finally, I had the opportunity to speak at one of Justin’s mayoral campaign events, where I crafted my speech around the acronyms of his name. Allow me to share it with you:
Judgment – I trust Justin’s judgment to do the right thing for all people
Understands – the needs of ALL people
Speaks-up – for those who sometimes need extra support speaking for themselves
Tenacious – in standing firm on contentious issues such as police reform and addressing the misappropriation of City funds that consistently flow to the same recipients
Immeasurable willingness – to do what’s right by the residents and the city as a whole
Nice – he’s just nice!
Hardworking – keeps his word and gets the job done
Upbeat – always tries to find the positive in a situation even when it’s hard for me to see it
Raspy voice – is fun loving
Supportive, Smart, Sincere, Self-sacrificing, Savy – I couldn’t choose
Trust – when it comes to caring for my family and other families throughout the city, I just trust him!
Justin Hurst for Mayor 2028! ■
