I was at Si Lakritz's funeral recently, and saw all the people who have influenced my life. I'm writing this to publicly thank them. I would like to thank the people in my district that voted for me and the ones that were undecided. I want to thank you again for your vote. I still have a lot to learn and I learn every day. I would like to thank some people that were a big and important part of my life and some who still are. They taught me how to believe in myself, be a winner and never quit.

First of all, I would like to thank my dad, Benjamin Thomas, for teaching me that families come first and the value of life. I would also like to thank my mom, Naoma Thomas, for believing in me and never giving up on me. And going back in time, in my younger days, I used to pick up the phone and call my cousin, Art Thomas, who was the Kings County sheriff for many, many years. He used to give me advice. One piece of advice I still remember is always keep your chin up and never quit. These were the people in my life that I could always count on. They were always ready with advice. Although these people are deceased, their words will always be in my mind.

Another wonderful people that I would also like to thank is my cousin, Anthony Mendes. Ever so often, I needed someone to hear my thoughts or give me advice on a particular subject and Anthony was the one I went to. He has always been there to hear me out and offer some of his thoughts.

Command Sgt. Major Joe Singh is always ready with suggestions whenever I need advice. I would also like to thank him for being a friend and for his suggestion to place the American flags along both sides of Main Street.

Another wonderful and great person that I would like to thank is Joe Flores. Sometimes he runs his thoughts through me and many times I run my thoughts through him. Joe has always been ready to listen and I would like to thank him for being my sounding board and for being there when I needed someone to talk to.

Now, this person that I'm bringing up now was a big part of my life when I was young. He taught me never to quit regardless of how tough the situations were. I put him through a lot when I was growing up, more than anyone could put up with. He never gave up on me and he made me finish what I started. He was not only a friend, he was my head football coach, Joe Avila.

Two other people I would like to thank are our district attorney, Ron Calhoun, who has always given me advice so that I can stay out of trouble, and Sentinel Publisher Randy Rickman. He lives in my district and he also gives me advice.

For me, being on the City Council is proof that anything is possible as long as you don't quit. One day I was just a worker and a business owner and before I knew it, I was on the City Council. If I can do it, anyone can do it too. All you have to do is want it and try it. As long as you never quit on yourself and believe that you can do it, and do it for the right reasons, anything is possible.

I would also like to thank my wife, Consuelo Thomas, for standing by me through hard times and good times and making me believe that there is nothing that I can't do. I would also like to thank my two daughters. Now Dalenna Lee, she is now married and has a beautiful little girl. Dalenna is presently attending medical school. My youngest daughter, Selena Thomas, a law student, is also presently attending school. The two newest members in my family are my son-in-law, Casey Lee, and my beautiful granddaughter, Alison Carmen Lee.

I would like to say that I have been blessed for having all these things that happened in my life in this short period of time.

Again, I would like to thank the people in my district for making my dream come true and being able to serve each and every one of you in the city council.

Thomas is councilman for District E.

(Oct. 4, 2008)