Pipeline to Local Office

This past week, I attended a class at UMSL, "Pipeline to Local Office." It was a campaign training workshop, and I recommend it to anyone interested in either running for office, or campaigning for a candidate or issue. The sponsor was the Sue Shear Institute for Women in Public Life, and it was moderated by Dayna Stock and Vivian Eveloff. There were about 50 people in attendance, and the split was pretty even between candidates and campaign workers. We learned about building a campaign plan, fundraising, reporting the funds, and how to reach targeted likely votes. The discussion was good, but my campaign workers and I have already done or have started most of what we were taught. Thankfully so! I gained the most from the Panel Discussions. The first night, we met and heard from Melissa Hattman, who campaigned and won a seat on the Board of Trustees for St. Louis Community College, as well as Gina Jaksetic, who is a first-term councilwoman for Kirkwood. The second night of class, the panel was Laurie Feldman, councilwoman for St. Charles, and Viola Murphy, who is the Mayor of Cool Valley.

I was most impressed with Laurie Feldman. We have a lot in common, as it relates to running for public office. There are some similarities on a personal level as well. She had never run for public office until she ran for the City Council. Laurie was a relative newcomer to St. Charles (11 year resident), but this did not diminish her desire to make it a better place to live. She wanted to be a candidate willing and capable of bringing credibility and human respect back to the St. Charles city government. That is one of the main reasons I want to be elected as well!

Much like Laurie, I would bring a multitude of professional skills to the office of Mayor, including:

• Communications
• Relationship Building
• People Management
• Process Management
• Budgeting
• Reporting and Analysis
• Conflict Resolution

I was inspired and motivated meeting her, and hearing about her story and success. So, with that, I'm off to knock on some doors this afternoon. I have a goal to talk to at least 50 residents each weekend, between now and the election. I can't wait to share my message with the residents Woodson Terrace.

By the way, Brad and I received a mailing yesterday, which gave us quite a surprise. It was a photocopy of my Localite ad on one side, and someone wrote on the other side "Are you ready for a change?" and to check out the ad just delivered. The message was "Pass this news around....." and come to my Meet and Greet on Saturday, Feb. 6, 1p - 4p. In the best manner of Get Out The Vote, this anonymous person asked for residents to place one of my yard signs, to show they want to have a change, as well as remember to vote on April 6. Outstanding! I was utterly shocked, the effort almost made me speechless! So, to that person or group of people, thank you for the support!

More later. Be sure to drop me an email with any questions or issues you would like for me to address. If I don't have the answer or knowledge, I will do the research and report back.


Kathy


If you don't like the way the world is, you change it. You have an obligation to change it. You just do it one step at a time.
~Marian Wright Edelman