Play the game

Local blogger Lasaro made some pretty good observations about my campaign this morning. "And besides, should he actually win and get elected, those people who's ring he wouldn't kiss, well he'll find out that they are all still going to be there, waiting to make sure he doesn't succeed. Why do you think you always see the same people running for office. They know how to play the game. Mark needs to get into the game before he can change the game." Lasaro is right about the power brokers still being there. They always will be. The question is how to avoid getting caught up in it. Before I announced my candidacy I went around talking to everyone I could trying to get the lay of the land and find out who else was going to be running. I met with one of the biggest power brokers in this town who was less than impressed with my idealism and grass-roots strategy. His advise to me? Run a nice, quiet campaign. Be nice to the "real" candidates. Get my name out there, and lose. Maybe get a PIAC appointment from the winner. Show everyone what a good little soldier I am. That will get me noticed and maybe someday it will be "my turn." My turn? So city council is some kind of reward? For what? I politely disagreed (okay maybe not so politely) with this person and took my leave. His parting words were something about me getting steamrolled by the big endorsing political organizations. I'm not convinced. I still believe in the democracy I was taught in 6th grade Civics. You run for office, you talk about the issues, you work hard and you get elected. Maybe I missed the chapter where it said you join the right political organizations, you network with the rich and powerful, and eventually you are rewarded with tons of campaign contributions and you buy your way into public office. There's a lot of money being contributed in this little 4th in-district race. Not to me! But there's a lot of money. I know who is giving what to whom. I really don't care. On February 27th we all get brought down to the same level in that voting booth. You know how many votes a big dollar contributor gets? ONE. Just like the rest of us. So to anyone out there that thinks this race is about fundraising and deal making? You keep counting your money. I'll count votes.