Monkeyboy wrote:

I was watching videos and stumbled on this video about India's efforts to address some of their water issues. This (or something similar) should be happening in every country.

CalvinBall wrote:So the State Rep in my district ran in two races in the primary. She won both which means she is withdrawing her name from the State Rep race and needs replaced on the ballot in November.

I threw my name in two weeks ago. The local comittee members vote and send that name to the state who makes it official.

I am one of five people. It's been exhausting. There are a handful of pipeline activist who mostly do not live in the district. None of them know me at all yet the usual loud, generally mean spirited ones have been assholes. Fortunate there is another person in the race who they hate even more.

I've spoken with a number of people and it's a lot of we want someone younger to represent us but it is not your time kind of thing. Seems the odds on favorite is the Mayor of West Chester because she has name recognition (despite it being likely that the large majority of people who vote in November will have no clue that she is the Mayor). It's been frustrating. I can articulate actual things I'd like to change and she can just read some things. It's incredibly hard to break through inter party politics. It's been an eye opening experience in that regard.

CalvinBall wrote:So the State Rep in my district ran in two races in the primary. She won both which means she is withdrawing her name from the State Rep race and needs replaced on the ballot in November.

I threw my name in two weeks ago. The local comittee members vote and send that name to the state who makes it official.

I am one of five people. It's been exhausting. There are a handful of pipeline activist who mostly do not live in the district. None of them know me at all yet the usual loud, generally mean spirited ones have been assholes. Fortunate there is another person in the race who they hate even more.

I've spoken with a number of people and it's a lot of we want someone younger to represent us but it is not your time kind of thing. Seems the odds on favorite is the Mayor of West Chester because she has name recognition (despite it being likely that the large majority of people who vote in November will have no clue that she is the Mayor). It's been frustrating. I can articulate actual things I'd like to change and she can just read some things. It's incredibly hard to break through inter party politics. It's been an eye opening experience in that regard.

swishnicholson wrote:

CalvinBall wrote:So the State Rep in my district ran in two races in the primary. She won both which means she is withdrawing her name from the State Rep race and needs replaced on the ballot in November.

I threw my name in two weeks ago. The local comittee members vote and send that name to the state who makes it official.

I am one of five people. It's been exhausting. There are a handful of pipeline activist who mostly do not live in the district. None of them know me at all yet the usual loud, generally mean spirited ones have been assholes. Fortunate there is another person in the race who they hate even more.

I've spoken with a number of people and it's a lot of we want someone younger to represent us but it is not your time kind of thing. Seems the odds on favorite is the Mayor of West Chester because she has name recognition (despite it being likely that the large majority of people who vote in November will have no clue that she is the Mayor). It's been frustrating. I can articulate actual things I'd like to change and she can just read some things. It's incredibly hard to break through inter party politics. It's been an eye opening experience in that regard.

Good luck to you. It's a tough call I know, since you have to be a little disruptive to make actual change, but there's also the political reality of possibly alienating people that could help you a lot in the future. It's not my future though, so I say go ahead and disrupt!

jerseyhoya wrote:Sounds like you're handling it smart and even if you don't get it, you're planting a seed by putting your name/face out there in front of everyone.

Politics is really fucking random, and impressive that you were ready to step up to try to take advantage of the opening.

People going with the safe and familiar shouldn't discourage you, and if they go a different direction, be helpful in the fall for whomever they pick and maybe you can make some friends who will help you in a future race.

mcare89 wrote:Calvin, what's the demos of your district like? Is it thought to be a contested seat and they really need the name recognition boost, or is it a district where the Dems are expected to carry it?

TenuredVulture wrote:When you get the nomination, I will throw a few bucks.

CalvinBall wrote:

jerseyhoya wrote:Sounds like you're handling it smart and even if you don't get it, you're planting a seed by putting your name/face out there in front of everyone.

Politics is really fucking random, and impressive that you were ready to step up to try to take advantage of the opening.

People going with the safe and familiar shouldn't discourage you, and if they go a different direction, be helpful in the fall for whomever they pick and maybe you can make some friends who will help you in a future race.

Smart advice. Thanks. Hard because it often feels like these windows don't open up often. But I still have five years in my 30s. Not dead yet. Have to keep it all in perspective.

CalvinBall wrote:

mcare89 wrote:Calvin, what's the demos of your district like? Is it thought to be a contested seat and they really need the name recognition boost, or is it a district where the Dems are expected to carry it?

Rs outnumber slightly still. With a like 7k independents I believe. Last cycle it went like 57-43 for the D. Wasn't really close. 4k vote spread.

Cycle before the D knocked off the incumbent R by like 20 votes. Counting drug on into December. Was wild.

I think it's an easy win in November no matter who. The R candidate is a big Trump dude. Drives a yellow mustang with a license plate that says "Pro Life" or something similar. He wore a 3 piece suit to go door knocking to get signatures. Super weird.

Lots of people are worried Rs are going to dump a ton of money into the race because it is open. I just don't see it though.

thephan wrote:American hero John Bolton was on NPR today and said that he was not going to vote for Trump or Biden. He's going to write in the name of a conservative GOP leader to be determined later. he knew he wasn't going to vote for Trump, and I guess it's easy to figure out he wouldn't vote for Biden, what a moron