Back in July, I posted a diary about my initiation into a Good Grade for a Citizen (according to Howard Dean, the best grade he could give a citizen who never ran for any office was a D-minus). I thought I would give an update, since elections are right around the corner.
In my state, Connecticut, local elections are held on odd years, opposite State and National elections which are held on even years. This is done on purpose, so that local candidates will not get down ticket help from the major candidates.
In my state, there are many hotly contested local elections. Mostly, the issues are "the incumbents are crooks" or "the taxes are too high." These are issues about which the citizens can and do get involved, believing that they can do something about it. There are towns in Connecticut that have floated bond issues and town budgets half a dozen times, each time clearly saying NO! but alas! the town politicians merely resubmit it without significant change. Any Kossack in Connecticut knows what I'm talking about, and I believe that there are great opportunities for political candidacy in those towns.
And, probably, in many towns in the US.
But back to the story. I had decided to become politically active at age 56 when a number of things happened which got my attention. My brother, an unknown businessman in Central California, became interested in politics when he discovered his Congressman - an odious but powerful Republican - was running unopposed in 2004. He ran and lost. But he didn't give up, he kept the campaign going and was elected in 2006. During that process, I met my own Congressman, who encouraged me to get involved locally. And, I retire in a couple of years, I'll be ready to give politics my full time attention.
So I looked up my Democratic Town Committee, and the very 1st question I heard from them was, "Are you willing to run for State office?"
Well, I am, but I'm not ready for that. Instead, a seat on the School Board became vacant, I suggested I could do that, they agreed. I petitioned the Board, which appointed me in the chair, notifying me that I had to run in the next election.
The next election is next week.
It is not a hotly contested race. There are three Democratic incumbents on the Board running for re-election. Well, I guess in my case 're-election' is not accurate, since I haven't yet been elected. Besides that, there is a vacant seat, so all in all, there are four positions up for election. And three of them are being sought by incumbent Democrats.
About the time the Democratic slate was drawn up, the Republican slate was too. A woman who seemed interested and qualified, an officer in a locally owned bank, was registered as the Republican candidate. Looked like everyone running would be elected.
THEN, the Republicans fielded a 2nd candidate. I don't really know all that much about him. I didn't know his agenda, his bio was missing from their flier, and I was puzzled. I had been on the Board now for about 5 months, 1 or 2 meetings a month (depending on whether school was in session, 1 per month for the summer months). There had been issues, but there had not been any stridency, and there were no real partisan issues. It seemed to me that everyone had the best interests of the towns young students in mind, as it should be.
So, there were fund raisers. I volunteered, I went. I sold coffee and hot dogs at the local autumn fair, I bought tickets and attended an entertainment event. I put up lawn signs. On Thursday, I stood at the corner early in the morning and waved at commuters. It's been busy, it's been fun.
I spoke to the media. Really, by email. My picture appeared in the paper, along with the Democratic slate. The reporter wanted to know how to contact me on Election night. The DTC wants more standing on corners waving at commuters.
And that is how it stands. No polls, no idea how it will turn out. I feel like I've done my part, and we'll see. I believe, as an incumbent, I'll be put back in office.
Tomorrow, I'm going on a lit drop.