In his own words...

In his own words...

By Herald staff  |   Sunday, February 20, 2011  |  http://www.bostonherald.com  |  Local Politics

Read more of what Cornell Mills had to say in his interview with the Herald.

On the City Council race:

“My decision to run is based on my history. I’ve been involved in this neighborhood for over 16 years doing community service, working with the youth and working with at-risk youth doing some mentoring. I’ve done some compliance work, making sure women, residents and minorities receive opportunities on jobs. I’ve done a lot of work in the streets making sure that kids have opportunities other than drugs and guns and violence and crime.”

• • •

On his mother, former Sen. Dianne Wilkerson:

“My mother has been very supportive. She has a lot of experience in politics.

“She’s made sure that myself and my brother have been involved in politics. I worked on my first political campaign at the age of 10. And more importantly, I’ve sat in those basement meetings. I’ve been a part of this civil rights struggle. Even though we have a governor that’s an African-American and we have a president that’s African-American, we’re far from a post-racial society.”

• • •

On Wilkerson’s arrest and subsequent conviction for federal corruption:

“As you go through trials and tribulations in life and as you try to become a better person, there are stages that you have to go through to get to where I am at today.

“When this incident first happened I was in denial. I was upset about it. I couldn’t believe it happened. That denial then turned into anger. I was mad; I wanted to lash out. That anger can easily turn into depression if you don’t channel it in the proper way.

“If you’re able to get past that anger and that depression and you come into acceptance, then you leave it up to God. So at this point, I’m acting on God’s plan. I feel like God has given me this opportunity to make a difference. I’m not angry. I’m not depressed. I’m at peace with the situation.”

Article URL: http://www.bostonherald.com/news/politics/view.bg?articleid=1318150