Ok a little more on how you run a local election

[nadinbrzezinski]

I was thinking about it last night.

Here is the race for local mayor.

On the one hand we have a congressman who's served in Council before moving to Congress and who has done a lot of good. He is a process man...

On the other we have a guy who was a student of the Speaker, yes he interned for THAT speaker.

Now think who is going to be more effective in the race.

"I want to change the dynamic in city council and deal with homelessness"

Or

"We will take care of your pot holes and LOWER your taxes."

Now one item is quite abstract to most people, the other... potholes are real to all of us.

I hate to say it, but while I like number one, and I understand why I need number one and how number two will be bad... I am willing to bet that number two will be the next mayor... and boy he will do great damage. But hey, he will take care of pot holes. Almost reminds me of the Governor of Baja a couple decades ago... he was elected on the pot hole promise, no not kidding. I actually had to ask him in the elevator about that well... broken promise and where to send the bill for the tires on our ambulances. Oh and man number one was making fun of that fixation wiht potholes...

But this is how you take over a power structure at the local level. You need to speak to people about things that they really can see and smell every damn day... especially those who will reliably show up to vote.

[RC]

1. Anyone who says he will lower taxes is to be avoided like the plague.

He will hamstring the level of local government he is elected to. City Counsel, School Board, etc.

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. And, he will fix my pot holes.

That is what makes it real for people.

You and I are thinking with heads... you will lower taxes AND fix pot holes... what pixie dust will you use to pull off that magic trick?

Most voters are not there. They are quite emotional... YOU WILL FIX MY POT HOLES and fix the traffic issues and get the schools working and lower my taxes... COOL! It is emotional.

And this is why our pols miss, and I mean this, by a light year or two.

To complete the story I got to ask the governor of Baja, his brother lived in the same complex I live at, and I came from shift in nice dirty, sweaty, EMS uniform, he came to visit. I mean I was on the wrong side of the border. He was shocked somebody dared to ask him that question. Pols are pols, the only thing that changes is the language they speak.

[RC]

3. I know. I sometime get blank stares when I tell them I research the candidates I vote for.

And usually end up voting for a non-incumbent.
"But don't you want to win?" Or "don't you want to be on the winning side?"
You're correct, most people haven't a clue and vote on emotions.

Scott Walker cut my taxes. George Bu$h is against abortion. Obama is gonna take my guns away and give me Obamacare.