Strange feeling, going into the voter booth, and seeing your name printed on the ballot. Surreal. Twilight Zone.
As I diaried before, I was appointed to a vacant Lansing City Council seat in May, and immediately started to campaign. The competition will be tough, and politics is much stranger from the inside than you would suspect from the outside.
Anyway, so today I was officially listed as a candidate on thousands of ballots across the city. I'm both excited and nervous. Win big, squeek it out, or lose a horrible, crushing defeat. I guess those are the possible outcomes. I think I'm better at governing than campaigning, but with some good advice I hope to pull through the primary.
One thing I know, if it wasn't for this site, I wouldn't be where I am today. I have my own website and blog to update local issues a few times a week. I became an activist because of this site. I have become passionate about government and willing to put myself and family out there in the public eye. And make no mistake, it is a sacrifice. Every hour I spend helping city residents is an hour I don't spend with my family. That is my biggest regret, and really, the reason I will be fine if I lose today or in November. I have plenty going on in my life to keep me busy and happy, and in fact, secretly, I think my oldest son is hoping I lose!
So the next time you think politicians, which I claim to not be but the evidence points otherwise, are in it for the power, glory or money, especially in a local race, I'll tell you, it doesn't come without giving something else up.
So I'm happy to be on the ballot, expecting to win big, but who really knows? And thanks to Markos and all the rest of you for helping make me who I am today.