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Okay, So I am now a Ward 1 representative for City Council.  I managed to get over the shock Wednesday night and I am in the process of hitting the ground running.  I want to meet as many council members as I can before I get sworn in on the 7th.  Then there is that big budget meeting covering two days.  A huge manual to review and lots of issues agendas to get up to speed on. 

And I'm still trying to work out the schedule to ensure that I can work as hard as I can for my  Ward while not burning myself or annoying everyone else to death.

It will be one heckuva ride the next two years and I really look forward to what I can achieve with the help of my fellow council members.

But first!  I recorded a short (emphasis on SHORT) clip for KEVN Fox news.  It should be airing Saturday night or Sunday night, not sure which.

More Importantly....STAND UP FOR  FOR WOMEN’S RIGHTS!

PROTEST THE PROPOSED ABORTION BAN

 THURSDAY, JUNE 26^TH

11:30 – MEET AT MEMORIAL PARK BANDSHELL

12:00 TO 1:00 – PROTEST       ALONG OMAHA BETWEEN

5^TH AND 8^TH STREETS

SPONSORED BY DEMOCRACY IN ACTION 

Motivation is a very tough thing for me.  I have been up and down almost daily on this short campaign trail.  There are days where I feel like I am a winner, other days I think I won't get a single vote, so why bother?   Keeping a positive mindset going and continuing to take action is almost an  uphill battle for me.  

It helps that others, men and women are thrilled that I am running and are putting themselves out to help in my campaign.  No candidate can succeed alone and having such wonderful supporters around is of great comfort and joy.

I am just seriously awed by the fortitude required in running for office.  I'm sure that even the presidental candidates, with there millions of supporters and a out of this world budget must struggle to keep themselves going. 

It's hard out there for a candidate, but the rewards are worth it.

Started making some phone calls tonight. Basically taking the voters' list and looking them up in the phone book.  Talked to one gal, left messages with two more, and there rest were either not available or not listed in the book.  I might do a mixture of the phone calls and flyer drop.  Hopefully I can maximize my outreach by doing both. 

Reading up on the recent decision by the Supreme Court on the Gitmo detainees.  Hopefully they will get justice eventually.  Either being freed or actually charged with something backed by real evidence.  I find the dissenting justices comments that this will empower terrorists to be an absurd opinion.   My view is that terrorists will no longer be able to claim martyr status because of being rounded up without evidence by the military.  They will now realize there will be real consequences to their crimes based on real evidence they can't simply dismiss as imperialist rhetoric.  Funny how we are willing to dispense real justice but terrorist nations don't.

My runoff campaign is officially started, although I don't expect to do exceptionally well.  It is really just me now and there is much to be done in short of a time and I hope I make a dent.   I am hitting the streets again, distributing my remaining flyers, with updated runoff information.  I will also attempt to do phone calls tomorrow night and see if that is more effective in reaching folks.  I'm also trying to order more signs, but not sure they will be ready in time. 

I tried getting a new voter list with updated information on the recent primary, but the office said it won't be completed until the end of the week. 

All of this just reminds me what an enormous effort it takes in time, money and people just to have a decent chance at winning an election.  Not that I regret making the decision nor to dismiss the emotional, monetary and physical  support I have received so far, but I really wish I would have built up a base of resources and manpower long before making the decision.  Might have made this process a heckuva lot easier.

I would like to see if there a way to develop an 'campaign company' that can be deployed in an instant to  help folks run their campaigns, but doesn't cost a mint for them.  I would also like to develop some a kind of 'how-to' book for South Dakota folks looking to run for office.  Perhaps get in tips from experienced campaigners.  Something akin to the fantastic recyling booklet. 

Something to aim for in the future!

Ellie Schweisow is running as an independent in District 32.  Just another wrinkle in a pretty interesting race.  I voted for Katus in the last election and I will probably vote for him this time around as well. 

You would think that as a democracy in action member, I would be supporting Elli.  But Katus' views meshes more with my own, althought what basically sinks  Elli in my eyes is her stance on abortion.  I cannot abide by it and even if she was totally in sync with my other views, I do not want an anti-choice individual, be it man or woman in office.  It seems when it comes to this particular race, I am a one-issue woman.

Which leads me to Hillary Clinton.  I would have been pleased to vote for either her or Barack Obama as President.  Hillary is the most credible candidate, male or female in a long time.  There has been much talk of Clinton supporters who will throw their vote to McCain and that leaves me totally confused.  How can someone who supports Hillary, suddenly say they will support McCain?  It is completely baffling to me.  Do they feel so that betrayed that Clinton didn't win that they are 'punishing' someone by voting for what could be said is the enemy?  Do they feel McCain is a Clinton substitute? 

This inquiring mind wants to know. 

Sorry for the lack of blog posts.  I recently returned from memorial services for a relative of mine and I find out the day after the election that I'm in a runoff with Tom Johnson.  I never thought I would get this far and it has been a fantastic experience so far.  Literally couldn't have done it without the gals from Democracy In Action.

I voted for Obama, but I couldn't help but feel a little sadness that Hillary didn't win.  She was a a great candidate and she is an excellent role model for our young girls and women that women can make great strides in politics.  I only hope that we have many more female candidates in the future.