I’ve lived here my whole life, all 38 years. Moved out of my parents’ house to my own house down the street in 2005. A couple years ago I read that the current mayor had mentioned in a council meeting that he wanted to re-start the city’s “Future Growth Commitee” so I emailed him and said “I want to be on that.” I got on that. Then I got together a PAC to try to pass two tax levies, one for roads and one for parks & rec. They failed. The city tried another levy, combined roads & parks. I set up another PAC. The levy won. I was appointed to the Parks & Rec Committee. I was also appointed to Civil Service.
The city was looking bad because two members of council were frankly making a mess of things. Every council meeting was contentious. This one council member openly and loudly campaigned against all three aforementioned levies. I thought about running against her. I have social anxiety and really REALLY did not want to run. Someone asked me “If [crazy lady] runs and wins, and you didn’t run against her, would you be disappointed in yourself?” Yes I would have been. So I ran.
Yadda yadda, I’ll be on council January 1 I got the second most votes - voters were choosing to fill 3 seats. There were 7 people running and the crazy lady came in 6th.
There’s a whole lot of stupid shit that takes a lot of backstory to understand. I wish it was just silly nonsense like “Parks & Rec” but this is deep and sordid. Not like anyone was running away with funds or sleeping with interns but just a faction of people filled with hate. Tea-Party-like nonsense in our tiny little fishbowl.
I applied to be on the county Grand Jury and wasn’t chosen by the “random” process, but the former County Supervisor was chosen. I knew the process was rigged at that point, and when they then came back and asked me if I wanted to be on it, I told them no and told them why.
the last time 2 “outsiders” ran in our city council they didn’t last long because they didn’t agree with our acquiring a baseball team and stadium and new movie megaplex and a aborted city assisted Costco expansion the male seemed ot be there just to object to everything
then when it was his turn to be mayor which was ceremonial and the council took turns ever year they decided ot make it a real position and hold elections
He took it as a personal slight and quit and left town and joined another city council near la …
Just let us know when you have filled out all the paperwork to give kickbacks to your cronies, and send them on tropical vacations on private jets and all that stuff. I’ll make a great crony.
I got the second most votes - voters were choosing to fill 3 seats. There were 7 people running and the crazy lady came in 6th.
Please let me add my congratulations on your win and admiration for your willingness to serve!