Yes, I want to call out one of our own -- a member who goes by the moniker sheddhead. I'm calling her out for being the kindest, coolest Kossack ever. You know what she did? She volunteered her time and expertise to create a web site for me to help in my race for a seat on the currently all-GOP city council in Valparaiso. She asked for no money and she was extremely patient with me [I'm a writer but when it comes to designing web sites, what I know would fill maybe half a thimble].
Most of the designers, sign makers, and printers lick their chops at election time. We don't have a stable corps of Democratic businesses who cut any deals or help much at all. The amount of money it takes to wage a campaign -- even a local one like mine -- is amazing. It's the GOP business guys and builders who pay for the campaigns of their Republican representatives and it's damn hard to compete.
But I have a friend at dKos. Sheddhead, you are my hero, my friend, my partner, my role model.
Follow me below to help me thank sheddhead, and to help if you can.
Here's the web site:
http://www.sendjulia.com
There is a better than even chance I can win this thing. Our rubber stamp council is grating on the nerves of even longtime Republicans who see the waste and buddy deals. We have ethics issues, we have environmental issues, we have spending issues -- the whole gamut, really. If you are familiar with property tax issues in Indiana, you know that Hoosiers are in for a whopping tax increase [estimates of up to 24%], the bill for which is due to arrive sometime after the election [Mitch Daniels made sure of that]. Meanwhile, our council here has rubber stamped a bunch of taxpayer funded jobs for the mayor's friends, abused programs like TIF districts -- well, the list is long and very local. But you get my drift -- lots of places are like this.
In fact, we have what amounts to a mini Bush administration. Our mayor thought it was fine to pass out free tickets to "The Passion of Christ" at the high school -- he's an evangelical who apes what Bush does: he praises Jesus while he picks your pocket.
Sheddhead helped me get the word out that people here have choices. Can you help, too? I am a single mother and writer, and as soon as I announced my candidacy the newspaper from which I made most of my money cut me off completely. I guess it's ok for developers and lawyers to run for office, but never writers. I'm not wealthy, obviously, and this is a very hard thing to do. These days, when my kids ask for money for school pictures or to go to the movies, they stand back in case I blow. It's tough days, but they support me as much as teenagers can.
Trust me, I'm asking everyone in my own city for as much support as I can get. I have never gotten an education like the one I'm getting now -- run for office and you will see exactly how much dollars determine our futures and impact our lives. I hate the system we have and hope someday to help change it.
What do I need? Rolls of stamps for the campaign postcards, money to pay for the yard signs I ordered. If you have a little extra -- visit the web site where it's easy to donate. We are focused on national and state races here at dKos, and I understand that local is not the priority. So I'm not asking you for $1000. You got a ten? I'd be eternally grateful.
I'll keep Kossacks here posted -- I'll let you know how this election comes out, win or lose. And I'll share what I learned.
BUT MOST OF ALL, I WANT YOU TO GIVE A SHOUTOUT TO SHEDDHEAD. In a world of begging, negotiating, fundraising, and worrying, sheddhead said she would help, and she just did it, and she is a shining example of why every day -- before I do anything else -- I come to dKos. When we work for change, we work for each other, and it's a beautiful thing.
http://www.sendjulia.com