So, I was recently elected a county delegate, representing my precinct. And then I heard nothing more–except for multiple emails per day from a presidential candidate’s campaign insisting they would have to end their campaign if I didn’t send money RIGHT NOW! I unsubscribed, but they keep finding new email accounts to attack from. Seriously, dudes, back off already. If I could take back my vote I think I would.
But I digress. This week things began to happen. I got an email instructing me when and where the first “Meet Your Candidates” open house would be held, and where to find a list of candidates. That…was a long list. But I cleared my calendar. Then I got an email from one single candidate inviting me to an event for just him at a local park which included dinner. Sorry, but with that many people to learn about I didn’t feel much like devoting two and a half hours to just one candidate. Especially when he’s running unopposed for the party nomination. I’m a delegate, not someone looking to be roped into a single campaign. I wrote back and asked his campaign if he’d be at the “Meet Your Candidate” thingie. They assured me he would be.
Sometime during the day yesterday it occurred to me that I might only be required to vote for candidates running in my district. With that thought in mind I did a little research and found I could whittle that list of 30-40 candidates down to…six. That could be a little more manageable. So I went to the MYCT (Meet Your Candidate Thingie) last night prepared to a) confirm with someone that was indeed the case, and b) track down those six people.
The event was held in a large room at the local National Association of Realtors building. Each candidate had a table. I scoured the room. Only two of my district’s candidates were there, and neither of them had party opposition. So I decided to just hang out and see if I could learn what the issues even are. I’ve only lived here coming up on five years. I haven’t much of a clue what the local issues might be.
Boy, did I learn a thing or two. Even at the local level you really need to be paying attention. There’s a lot going on, a lot of things that need to be addressed. I spent nearly two hours there, and most of it shadowing those two candidates. I didn’t talk much, just listened and learned.
One side lesson I learned is that a disorganized staff can make problems for you. Perhaps the one candidate’s people knew he was going to be at the MYCT last night, apparently but he didn’t. It sounded like he showed up to get a chance to meet the other candidates. Once he realized that he was supposed to have a table there he pulled up a section of carpet and held court, but he evidently didn’t come prepared for that.
Clearly a candidate is only as good as the people who help him. Choose wisely.
Anyway, it was an interesting experience. But I still have at least two more candidates to track down and try and get some information on them. I’m fully prepared to cast “no vote” for these people if I they make it hard to learn about them. I’m ornery in my old age. It’s not that hard to put up a website.
More to come. The convention is still over two weeks away.
Thom just out of curiosity, where are you? If a democrat, I suggest the choice is rigged. If republican, I hope for Mitt in a brokered convention. But local candidates are buffoons. Always have been
I’m in Utawr.