My name is Evan D. Macbeth, and I started doing Democratic politics because of DailyKos.
Kossacks really do kick my ass. I have been meaning to "get involved" for something like ten years. Every time I move, I think to myself, "Self, this time you're going to go volunteer." But every time, there are plenty of reasons not to.
Then I started reading DailyKos. And hearing the stories, and seeing the passion and power that the individual could actually have in our system. See, I always knew that to be true, but I guess I never really believed it until really immersing myself in this online community. - Kossacks Kick My Ass
I spent eight years as a Democratic volunteer, starting handing out lit for Jim Webb at local, Leesburg Virginia farmers markets in 2006, culminating in
being the Elector for the 10th Congressional District of Virginia in 2012. My time spent volunteering and helping build the Democratic party in my town, County and State has been some of the most rewarding of my life. I've learned a ton about my neighbors, their goals, their values and their dreams. I've learned that we share more than we know with each other in America, and that - as our President told us - we are the change we've been looking for.
So this year, I decided to take that message to heart, to live the values of the DailyKos community and not just fight for them, by offering myself as a candidate for office. I'm running for Treasurer of Loudoun County Virginia.
I am running because I believe our County deserves a Treasurer who knows that our greatest asset is our people. And that our prosperity is dependent on more than next year's tax rate or the interest rate on our municipal bonds (though those things are inarguably important). Our prosperity is dependent on understanding all of our assets, as a complete portfolio, including our land, our water, our parks, our roads, our businesses, our neighborhoods, our schools, and our air. And understanding that how we allocate priorities and values in that portfolio requires long term thinking and a long term perspective.
One of the big reasons I'm running is that I learned a lesson as the County Chair here in Loudoun County Virginia: We have to contest every race, every year. I've heard from other Democratic operatives that we need to conserve our resources and focus on races where we can win, but my experience leads me to disagree with that. I believe we need to give Democrats in even the reddest of Districts (like my own parts of Loudoun County) hope. We must give them someone to vote for, even if only to protest the R on the ticket. Because ensuring they have someone to vote for is how we build our party and our future. It is how we clearly demonstrate that we want to fight for every citizen, regardless of how far away from our "core" they may think themselves to be. (Because we're one America, not two.)
The race I'm running in is a tough one. I am running against a 20 year incumbent who hasn't faced a serious challenger in 12 years. Indeed, we didn't run anyone against him in 2011. And in 2011 he donated his entire campaign chest to other Republicans running in the County. That year, our Democratic incumbents and candidates lost, up and down the ticket (with one notable exception, then State Senator Mark Herring. You might have heard of him?). We have to contest every race, every year. It prevents safe Republicans from propping up competitive Republicans.
In being a 20 year incumbent, my opponent has the weaknesses inherent therein. His office has had no new ideas about governance in over a decade, even as our peer localities are innovating for their residence. He is a non-entity in the critical, important debates over the future of our county, either because he doesn't think that a Treasurer elected with the mandate of the people should speak up on those questions (whereas, I think an elected Treasurer has a responsibility to express an opinion in those cases), or because he simply doesn't care.
In either case, I can, and will, do a better job when I am elected. I ask for your support of my campaign: www.macbethfortreasurer.com/donate. Every dollar will go to helping a long-time Kossack get elected, and towards building our organization and a bench in Loudoun County Virginia.
I close with two thoughts.
First, I want this job. I like rules and procedure. I like public finances. I'm currently reading the 2014 comprehensive annual report of the County, including all the audited financial statements. And I've already found a pretty glaring mistake/typo where the County reported a number as "billions" when they meant "millions." That kind of mistake is beneath what a county like Loudoun should have in its books. I'll approach this job with the enthusiasm and innovation of a Leslie Knope (and perhaps exhaust my colleagues in a similar fashion).
Second, you should help pester David Waldman to hold a Meet and Greet for me, because when I win, he'll be my constituent.