The South isn't a friendly place to be a young democrat, particularly in a race that falls well under most folks' radar screens.
In a small-potatoes city council race in the suburbs of Lexington, Kentucky, democratic activist and firebrand Justin Dobbs is seeking his first elective office, trying to win over the voters of district 7 against a well-funded and well-practiced republican smear machine.
While the race affects only a small number of voters directly, the candidates and what they represent make this a race to watch, particularly in a conservative district of a state that went 60-40 for Bush in '04.
Justin Dobbs cut his political teeth fighting to keep public transportation alive in Lexington. The transit agency, LexTran, had for years been kept barely afloat, and voters had previously rejected calls to provide funding. The result was a decrease in services that mostly impacted the working parts of town, the North side.
Dobbs took over the fight in 2004, and when the ballot initiative succeeded and LexTran was again funded by public monies, it was clear that his efforts had made the difference.
This year, at the tender age of 25, he seeks his first political office, running for the modest seat of city council. In any other district of the city, his clear competence and passion to serve the voters would clear the way to an easy victory.
Unfortunately for Dobbs, he is facing the wife of an influenctial Republican who wants to use the seat to prevent Lexington from gaining control of its own water company, currently owned by a German conglomerate. The water company itself is generously funding candidates who promise to keep control of the company overseas, and those favoring local ownership are left to their own devices as they struggle to close the fundraising gap.
In the case of Dobbs' opponent, K.C. Crosbie, the fundraising goal is $250,000- for a city council race!
Contrast that with the money raised by Justin, which totals just under $10,000 as of this post.
This is a pattern all too typical in the neglected local races in the south; fueled by business interests, republican candidates are trying to purchase seats like commodities, ignoring the citizens and using unprecedented pre-election advertisement to win on name recognition alone.
Moreover, they're using smear tactics that will sound familiar to many who have seen Republican candidates in action over the past several years: insinuations about sexual orientation, ridicule because of age, and the smug rejection of public debates as somehow beneath the dignity of the conservative candidates.
I spoke with Mr. Dobbs this afternoon, and he remains upbeat despite the huge fundraising deficit he faces. He said that his own polling places him 11 points ahead, but that his opponent is planning several television spots to close this gap.
While Dobbs spends his weekends knocking on doors and attending civic events, Crosbie conducts her campaign from the gated community she calls home, raising money at country clubs from donors anxious to make political connections with her well-known and politically despised husband, Scott Crosbie.
Justin's campaign relies so little on funding that they can't accept funds over the internet. The only way to support him is to send a check to his campaign office through the snail mail.
I want to urge liberals who are sick of the typical Republican smear in forgotten races like this to check out Justin's site at dobbsforcouncil.com. If you like what you see, help him close the fundraising gap by sending a check to
290 Lake Wales Dr.
Lexington, KY 40515
With any luck, Dobbs will be around making waves in Kentucky politics for many years to come. Let's help him get off to a good start!