Hi all,
I'm Stephen Yellin, aka "Mr. Liberal". Some of you "old timers" here at DailyKos will remember me, as I used to contribute to the front page here (during the 2004 campaign cycle), as well as write numerous diaries after that. For the record, I've been posting here since mid-2003, when I was 15 years old. While being active in college life has largely kept me from writing here, I still check DailyKos multiple times a day.
Now that I am completing my college studies in May, I am ready to take the next step in my political life. I have been a consultant and a volunteer, in addition to being a blogger. Now, I can add a new title: candidate. Today, on my 22nd birthday, I am proud to announce that I am a candidate for Township Council in my hometown of Berkeley Heights, New Jersey.
I am excited to be able to throw my hat in the proverbial ring. My first political experience (back in 2001) was going door to door for the Democratic ticket in New Jersey. I chose to go door to door on Halloween; unsuspecting residents found themselves exchanging candy for campaign fliers. One of those residents was the Republican candidate for Township Council (then a Committee); although he politely declined my flier, we've been friendly ever since. I would later sit in his chair as part of "Kids Run Berkeley Heights Day". I knew then that one day, if I had the time and the chance, I would try to earn my seat on the dais.
Flash forward several years, and I am now able to pursue that goal. In the meantime I have been a County Committeeman, an active member of DFA, a consultant for New Jersey and Congressional candidates, and a member of Drew University's SGA. I will be attending the Edward J. Bloustein School of Public Planning and Policy at Rutgers University this Fall.
While I'm a young man, I also have several years of experience in Berkeley Heights government. Being an active Democrat in a town that is largely Republican has its advantages and drawbacks. On the plus side, I have come to know and work with many Republicans in town, including our Township Council, so that I understand what works and what doesn't in our local government.
On the minus side, I'm still a Democrat in a largely Republican town. President Obama received 43% of the vote in Berkeley Heights, while carrying New Jersey as a whole with 57%. Needless to say, I have my work cut out for me. Thankfully I have an excellent running mate in Linda Weber, a successful businesswoman as well as a Democratic activist in her own right. We are in the process of starting the most active Democratic campaign in modern memory in Berkeley Heights. Most importantly, we're both "in it to win it".
Over the next several months, I hope to chronicle the events of the campaign here at DailyKos and elsewhere. Linda and I will be setting up a website in the near future, as well as a campaign account to accept donations (if you want to donate, please include the traditional .01 cents, so I know where it came from!). We will be rolling out our campaign platform as well; while we'll be concentrating on taxes and local development, I hope to be able to address other issues that relate to the progressive movement in our country.
Thanks for reading, and see you on the campaign trail!
- Stephen
Update: Wow! Thanks everyone for the well-wishes, and for putting me on the Recommended List! I truly appreciate everyone's comments. My connection is strangely slow today, so please take this note as a personal "Thank You" to everyone so far (25 comments as of now). Will definitely keep you all posted!