This isn’t exactly a proper thank-you note, but it needs to be said publicly anyway.
Thank you, Trina. You did today what almost no one else has done this election season, and I appreciate it.
This afternoon in the heat of the day, when the steady stream of early voters had slowed to its lowest ebb, Trina Baughn came to Candidates’ Island with a cooler full of cold drinks. Let me tell you, it was a most welcome gift… all of us came with bottles of water (or root beer, for Charlie Hensley), but we were running on empty by that point.
Next came what I’ll remember even more: she had questions for each of us, pertaining to the various offices we seek. Not fluff questions like "will you raise my taxes" or "do you support safe schools," but well thought-out, specific questions for which each candidate should have an answer. And no, mine didn’t pertain to bus service.
Outside of media interviews or election forums, I haven’t heard a lot of that. Going door-to-door, one lady did ask what my qualifications are, but that’s been the extent of it for me. It was really nice to have someone put some thought into these questions and stand in the hot sun to hear the answers before she went inside to cast her vote.
The Q&A was, for me, even more refreshing than the cold drink.
* * * * *
If you didn’t vote early (over 2,500 have, last I heard), Tuesday’s the real thing. There’s an all-candidates election party at Inspiration Point (adjacent to Flatwater Grill), where everyone except Ellen Smith and Aaron Wells (both were invited but declined) are planning to attend and watch the results come in. The event was the brainchild of Gene Caldwell, who pointed out that several of us share many of the same supporters, who would otherwise be driving around town from one event to another all evening.
This way, we can celebrate together.
Thank you. I should have done this in person, but hadn’t the right words at the time – I apologize for singling you out without a justified basis. Best of luck and God bless.
It’s great to hear that Angi and Trina had such a good encounter. I bet it was a great conversation. Based on the contacts I have had with both of you, you are both intelligent, thoughtful, informed, and not afraid of stating your opinions.
Unlike Angi, I’ve had many very stimulating interactions with individual voters in this campaign season, on subjects ranging from A (arts) to Z (zoning). I guess the difference is explained by the fact that there is more interest this year in the City Council election than the School Board election.
Sorry that I’ll miss greeting other candidates in person at the all-candidates election party on Tuesday evening, but some of my supporters and I were already making plans for our own get-together (which, by the way, will cost my “fiscally responsible” campaign budget far less than the “do” at Inspiration Point). The folks supporting me are an ad-hoc group that is unlikely to get together on a regular basis after the election, while experience tells me that the candidates in this election will be seeing each other on a regular basis in the future, so it makes sense to spend election night with the supporters.