My wife is running for a city council seat in the city where we live and we’re in the thick of the campaign. This past weekend we did two days of prescient walking, which was a very interesting and rewarding experience. Here are my reflections on the walking.

The homes we hit were people that have a high likelihood of voting. Therefore, even thought we were coming more or less out of the blue to ask for their support, they are people that are engaged in the voting process. From what I recall, I only remember once having someone at my door asking for my vote….and I’m a person that votes at every election. Is my experience the common experience? If it is, then I would think that the impact upon most people that we got to answer their door would have been positive. I say that because, every political solicitation I’ve received is a text, mailer, or robo-call.

When I think of the city council and their role, I don’t think about someone drafting some new legislation or crafting a new law. I think about someone upholding the values and services I want reflected on the street I live on and the areas I travel in the city. I want a safe and clean environment where sufficient services are provided; from shopping/business centers to parks to trash pick up. This is your government at work…literally.

I believe what I’ve described above is what most people want in their city government, regardless of party. Your city council representative is the person to help direct the mayor, manager and other city leaders to ensure the basic priorities stay on track. I know the image we present (and other walkers) is of people that have their life together. For what it’s worth our walkers plus the handout both present that message.

Secondly, when I was walking, and I believe this was true of other walkers, I did not run into people/homes that had been visited by competing candidates.  In my mind, I wonder if that was because many of the neighborhoods we hit were in the southern (less affluent) part of the district. I am almost certain that all four candidates live in the middle or northern part of the district.  Have the other three been walking their more familiar territories? I know the neighborhood I walked was not familiar to me and I also know that the distance between homes is closer than most home in the central and northern areas of the district. You can cover more ground if you’re in an area where houses are located closer together. I have a feeling that what I’ve said about them being in familiar territories to start is correct. I hope they don’t venture outside of the north or central. 

Every vote counts and every high propensity voting household most certainly counts. If image is what people buy into, my wife’s flyer should give them the image of a safe, sane, stable and clean city.