I accidentally started my "political career" Friday! While perusing my ballot (I LOVE mail in-it gives me two weeks to make up my mind and as per usual, I've got an election, local this time, in which I'll need the entire time!) and I realized that there was nobody running for my local Democratic precinct. I joked with my wife that maybe I should do a write in and she thought it was a good idea!
Now, I don't know how it works in other states, but in Oregon, the Democratic party wants a male and a female for every precinct, so I joked that maybe my wife would like to run for the female slot. I was pleasantly shocked when she told me that she thought that would be a good idea too! Did I mention that I also accidentally started my wife’s "political career" also? Look out Hillary-this one's a true progressive!
I emailed my local party and received back an email that literally said
HURRAH! We have a big year ahead and need all the help we can get... Even if your write in effort does not work out, please join us. We can appoint you if your precinct is open after the election
And when I wrote back Sharing my flyer, this is what I got back:
Since there were no names on the ballot for your precinct, you have a great shot. We've had people win with only 3 votes; that's you, your wife and one neighbor :-) . So don't waste too much paper. Just get your neighbors to fill in your names. Get a dozen or so, just to be safe...We are a very small group, with a few of us doing most of the work. We need new blood, new energy. So welcome aboard.
And indeed, they are a small group. Out of 55 precincts in Columbia county, I’m counting 15 females and 10 males...Out of 110 slots!
Here’s my flyer:
Democratic Precinct Committee Persons District 36
Robert La Liberte---Male
Christy La Liberte---Female
(pronounced like the Statue of Liberty, but with a La in front and an A at the end)
Hi! We’d like to introduce ourselves! We are a husband and wife living close to the end of Dutch Canyon in a humble home with our dogs, cat and chickens. Although we’ve lived here for eight years, we’re pretty private people (till now), so you may have never met us or barely know us, but we realize that things have got to change and that the best way to change them is from within the Democratic Party!
Although we have plenty of views on plenty of subjects, let’s start with just one issue. We need to get out of Iraq ASAP!!!
Do you want our children in modern schools getting a quality education? Sorry, we’re spending 12 BILLION A MONTH IN IRAQ!
Would you like Dutch Canyon and so many other roads and bridges without the pot holes and maybe even widened (where possible) for pedestrians, bikes, quads and horses? No can do. WE’RE SPENDING OVER 140 BILLION IN IRAQ THIS YEAR!!
Lower gas prices? WE’RE USING MORE THAN 1.7 MILLION GALLONS A DAY IN IRAQ!!! Wouldn’t it be nice to have that on the market?!?
Don’t get us started on the brave Men and Women that have lost their lives or limbs to this HORROR.
We want to make sure that the Democratic Party does the right thing-and while we will be small fish, we want to do more than vote and give to our candidates and causes.
So if you’re a registered Democrat and live in the 36th district, please write our names in for Democratic precinct chairs (no one else is running)!
If you have any questions, you can reach us at XXX or call us at XXX
I just gave out my super secret identity, D’oh:)!
Now I’m not a one issue voter-there’s the courts, choice, the deficit-I could go on and on, but the Iraq war is wrapped up in so many of our ills, it was an easy one for me. Besides, I wanted a flyer, not a book!
So, I went out yesterday and today and hit a handful of my neighbors with my flyers. I have discovered I’m a lousy canvasser, I tend to chat and can’t refuse the proffered libation and end up knocking off early, so I don’t make a fool out of myself (oh, yes, it does happen!). But, I was surprised! On my rural road, I encountered no Republicans and one Democratic leaning Independent (I’m voting for the Democrat, whoever the hell it is) offered to change his registration to vote for me! I appreciated the offer, but it’s too late for this primary. I think I picked up 10 votes!
O.K., I’ve rambled enough! Let me get to the point. If you live in Oregon and your precinct has nobody running, talk to your neighbors! Write yourself in! It’s not too late! My county, a rural county just north of Portland, is begging for new blood and I’m sure most others are! Let’s give it to them!!!
Oh, and if you live in precinct 36, please write me in!
Update: The postage is going up tomorrow, but the ballots WILL get delivered! The counties will eat the penny and the post office will not delay! Is this a great country or what!?!? H/T Zappadave for bringing this up!