I'm new to blogging and as some of you know, my wife, Ellinorianne has been relentless in her blogging about my first candidacy for anything. If she had not urged me and supported me, I highly doubt I would have chosen to run for State Senate but I knew with her help and that of the local Democratic community, we might move the OC to at least a respectable shade of purple.
That did not happen, but it doesn't mean our work is over. I still have debt to retire (Ballot statement) and I know that I can take what I learned through this race to help others run as proud Democrats and maybe run again in 2010.
Here is my thank you to supporters on my website that should go up tonight (My web mistress, aka Mrs. Pritchard is at work).
Dear Supporters:
My family and I want to express our sincerest gratitude for all that
you have done to make our first campaign a truly memorable experience.
As many of you know, my bid for State Senate has come to a close
without an election victory.
I am honored that you allowed me a small role in helping amplify your
voice, if only briefly, in this historic election.
We knew that a win was an unlikely outcome, but I am a better person
for having stood up with you to amplify our dissent throughout our
county and country.
I want you to know that we were not alone in our campaign. Over
123,000 people stood with our campaign Tuesday night. In 2004, 30% of
the vote was cast for the democrat; on Tuesday night, we made it past
40%.
On a shoestring budget along with an active volunteer base, we moved a
district with nearly half a million voters towards the goal of better
aligning people with their government and on this point we must view
our campaign as a success.
You have laid the foundation to building an ever growing coalition of
voters who understand that good policy often comes from people who are
not well-served by one party alone and who are wiling to challenge the
status quo.
You have taught me that this battle has only begun and that we must
build on our accomplishments.
We know that our state will face many challenges in the upcoming
years. We have made some significant headway but more needs to be
accomplished.
We can't ease up. It is our duty to advance our ideas not only in the
upper branches of government but also in the more immediate areas of
civic life.
We now have to be committed to the larger goal of better government
from our city councils, school boards, and water districts which
begins in 2010.
The Greek Philosopher Archimedes is credited for having first
exclaimed our state's motto, "Eureka!" which translates from the Greek
as "I have found it!"
Archimedes said "Eureka!" as he stepped into his bath and observed
that the water level rose. He understood at that moment that he had
solved a previously intractable problem while doing something rather
ordinary.
Archimedes so filled with the feeling of 'Eureka' he ran from his bath
through the streets naked to share his idea with the world.
Although I don't intend to run through the county naked, I want you to
know that I am committed to finding the fulcrum that finally tilts the
county in the direction of the people over the party.
May we all be touched by the better angels of our nature and, as
Archimedes once professed, "Rise above ourselves and grasp the world."
Sincerely Yours,
Gary Pritchard