Kamala Harris undeniably a superior presidential candidate to Donald Trump | Opinion

In my home city of Deer Park, I wear several different hats. I am a neighbor, I am Deer Park’s district chair to the Hamilton County Democratic Party, and I am the lone left-leaning elected representative on Deer Park City Council. Because I wear all of these hats, I have taken on the responsibility to enthusiastically advocate for all of the Democratic candidates on the ballot.

While I have been energized to talk about many of my friends who are running locally, like Karen Brownlee for state representative, Jessica Miranda for auditor, and Connie Pillich for prosecutor, prior to July 21, it had frankly been difficult to be as energized about the top of the ticket.

Like many Americans, I could not forget President Joe Biden’s staggering performance during the June 27 presidential debate. My promise to all of my neighbors in Deer Park is that I would never lie to them or mislead them. Therefore, when asked, I told them that I will vote for whichever candidate opposes Donald Trump because I believe in democracy and Trump doesn’t, but if that candidate is Joe Biden, I will be voting for him with strong reservations. A few days before Biden dropped out, I stated on social media that I think Kamala Harris should be the Democratic nominee for president.

Since Biden endorsed Harris for president, the state of the campaign has completely changed. As I write this, Harris has raised a gob-smacking $126 million, secured the necessary delegates needed to become the nominee, lit up social media with coconut memes, and has taught all of us who are over 30 why being called "brat" is actually a great thing!

More importantly, though, Harris has begun to passionately prosecute a campaign that aggressively attacks Trump for his 34 criminal convictions and his history of being found liable for fraud and sexual assault. Harris has also begun to articulate a vision of a bright future where the wealthy pay their fair share, women regain their bodily autonomy with the government kicked out of the doctor’s office, and the democratic systems that support our way of life are reinforced, not dismantled. Harris' vision for America stands in stark contrast to the dark and un-American vision of Project 2025.

Like so many, I do not want to live a nation run by a serial fraudster who shares more in common with Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un than Abraham Lincoln and George Washington. I also shudder at the thought that J.D. Vance, Trump's morally bankrupt running mate who thinks a victim of abuse should be forced to stay married to her abuser, might be a mere heartbeat away from the presidency.

While Harris is by no means a flawless person or politician − no person this side of Jesus Christ himself is − she is undeniably a superior candidate to the man Vance once called "America’s Hitler," Donald Trump.

I haven't been this inspired by a presidential campaign since I was shouting "fired up and ready to go" at President Barack Obama’s rallies in 2012. That was the first time I ever volunteered for a campaign, and it ignited the flame that has fueled my passion for politics and public service for more than a decade.

I am "fired up and ready" to charge up my wheelchair and exhaust all of its juice hitting the streets to talk to as many neighbors as possible about what’s at stake in November and why Kamala Harris has my vote for President of the United States.

Neil Kelly is a member of Deer Park City Council.