We just sent everyone home after a celebratory party. My husband has been cooking tomato-based dishes all week, as we had a bumper tomato crop resulting from the loss of so many trees last August. Ranchero! Shrimp creole! Lasagna! Tomato soup of two kinds! And then the neighbors brought enough food for an army. It was fun: I felt like the birthday girl. It truly has been heartwarming how my neighbors supported me in this.
Well, I don't actually take office until next January. This was only the primary, but no one is running on the Dem ticket, so I'm unopposed in November, nothing to do but wait and, in the meantime, learn more about the job from the outside by attending lots of meetings.
This was an interesting experiment in politics by social media. I spent about a fifth as much as the last person who won this seat. I did no robo-calling, no direct mail, hired no campaign manager. Mostly I attended many meetings, wrote them up, and posted the reports on Facebook. The response to the flow of information was astounding.
Congratulations, Tex. I once attended a local Zoning Board meeting. The Zoning Board members impressed me with their grasp of the subject matter.
My public service effort has been to serve on my HOA's Board for a decade. We had a lot of problems to begin with- basically maintenance that had been deferred way too long. Little by little, we have cleaned out the stable.
I think the method of your 'campaigning' and the success it bred is telling. Wonder if anyone else in the political world ever thought to give us more information, and be honest in discussion with us, as a means of getting our vote? What a concept!
Another advantage to this approach: I never asked anyone for money, so I can't very well feel beholden. I never said a word about what I was likely to do in office that wasn't strictly true, so I have no campaign promises to worry about and no reason to fear anyone will be rightfully disappointed. Here's something funny, though: one of my opponent's supporters posted a sour FB facebook message about whether we really need another Sheila Jackson Lee running this district. Can there really be people who somehow have concluded I have something in common with SJL? My opponent also worries that I'm just after this office as some kind of springboard to another office. I find the idea that I'm using this office to further my political ambition hilarious. I was barely ambitious for this office. No one who knows me could imagine that I aspire to move to Austin or D.C. Where do they get these wild, romantic notions? I don't think the path to world domination leads through this tiny county's Commissioners Court.
"Where do they get these wild, romantic notions? I don't think the path to world domination leads through this tiny county's Commissioners Court."
They find those wild, romantic notions in their own hearts. The guy who worries that you only want the job as a springboard almost certainly only wanted the job as a springboard.
Congrats!
ReplyDeleteThat's Sierra Hotel. Congratulations, Lady.
ReplyDeleteEric Hines
Congratulations! Texas will be a better place for it.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations!
ReplyDeleteSo, "yo, Tex!", ain't gonna cut it anymore? oh well.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations!
Congratulations. If you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours.
ReplyDeleteMadame Commissioner, congratulations. I hope you'll still have time for us occasionally!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations - fabulous news.
ReplyDeleteMC T99, MC Hammer. I look forward to the musical musings of the Commission.
ReplyDeleteEric Hines
Well deserved. Though I'm not sure they deserve you (i.e. you're too good for them, as I realized this could be taken in a much less flattering way).
ReplyDeleteFantastic! and congratulations.
ReplyDeleteWe just sent everyone home after a celebratory party. My husband has been cooking tomato-based dishes all week, as we had a bumper tomato crop resulting from the loss of so many trees last August. Ranchero! Shrimp creole! Lasagna! Tomato soup of two kinds! And then the neighbors brought enough food for an army. It was fun: I felt like the birthday girl. It truly has been heartwarming how my neighbors supported me in this.
ReplyDeleteWell, I don't actually take office until next January. This was only the primary, but no one is running on the Dem ticket, so I'm unopposed in November, nothing to do but wait and, in the meantime, learn more about the job from the outside by attending lots of meetings.
This was an interesting experiment in politics by social media. I spent about a fifth as much as the last person who won this seat. I did no robo-calling, no direct mail, hired no campaign manager. Mostly I attended many meetings, wrote them up, and posted the reports on Facebook. The response to the flow of information was astounding.
Congratulations, Tex. I once attended a local Zoning Board meeting. The Zoning Board members impressed me with their grasp of the subject matter.
ReplyDeleteMy public service effort has been to serve on my HOA's Board for a decade. We had a lot of problems to begin with- basically maintenance that had been deferred way too long. Little by little, we have cleaned out the stable.
I've never lived anywhere that was subject to zoning laws.
ReplyDeleteConsider yourself lucky.
ReplyDeleteI think the method of your 'campaigning' and the success it bred is telling. Wonder if anyone else in the political world ever thought to give us more information, and be honest in discussion with us, as a means of getting our vote? What a concept!
Another advantage to this approach: I never asked anyone for money, so I can't very well feel beholden. I never said a word about what I was likely to do in office that wasn't strictly true, so I have no campaign promises to worry about and no reason to fear anyone will be rightfully disappointed. Here's something funny, though: one of my opponent's supporters posted a sour FB facebook message about whether we really need another Sheila Jackson Lee running this district. Can there really be people who somehow have concluded I have something in common with SJL? My opponent also worries that I'm just after this office as some kind of springboard to another office. I find the idea that I'm using this office to further my political ambition hilarious. I was barely ambitious for this office. No one who knows me could imagine that I aspire to move to Austin or D.C. Where do they get these wild, romantic notions? I don't think the path to world domination leads through this tiny county's Commissioners Court.
ReplyDelete"Where do they get these wild, romantic notions? I don't think the path to world domination leads through this tiny county's Commissioners Court."
ReplyDeleteThey find those wild, romantic notions in their own hearts. The guy who worries that you only want the job as a springboard almost certainly only wanted the job as a springboard.