Day 325: Disappointed

It's been a long day and night. And a very disappointing one... several of my gals had bad nights at the polls ... more than anyone I know how a loss can sting, and it does... it really hurts.

My sweet Marisa Perez was a complete unknown and gave the Lakewood establishment a good run.... but she came up short tonight in her bid for Lakewood City Council. We worked all day calling voters and gave it our best, but in the end we couldn't pull it off.

The thing is though, Marisa will wake up tomorrow morning and still have her darling parents in town visiting from Texas, her supportive hubby Rudy, and her three healthy precious children. I'd say she wakes up a winner no matter if the voters of Lakewood elected her to office.

And in West Hollywood it's a tragic loss. Lindsey Horvath who was appointed to the council two years ago, lost her seat tonight. What an ugly, nasty election .... don't know why people have to be so negative. Who cares if she was appointed ... you had a chance to vote this time around, you didn't need to be nasty.

And in Beverly Hills, Lili Bosse was victorious, but incumbent Nancy Krasne's race is too close to call. And we all wonder why more women don't run for public office... it's a tough business, very personal, emotional, ugly, and that's just the campaigning part! I'm exhausted from the past few weeks... more tomorrow!

Day 324: Abbe, Lindsey, Marisa, Nancy & Lili ... You Go Girls!

Oh my fabulous West Hollywood candidates... what an ordeal it has been. What a battle they have endured... the endless attacks on ridiculous Blogs, Facebook postings with no merit, countless unsubstantiated articles... it has been quite a spectacle. And it is painful when the attacks are directed at people you love and admire.

Wow, I've said it before on my Blog, it brings up horrible memories of what I went through. I wouldn't wish it upon anyone... the campaign attacks are brutal. They can be mean spirited and hurtful.

These two women are accomplished in their own right. If you do not want to support them, don't. But don't stoop so low as to write untruthful material anywhere you can find a keypad... be productive and spend your time supporting your candidate.

Tomorrow is Election Day in Los Angeles county.

I've got two great women in Beverly Hills that I'm supporting, Nancy Krasne & Lili Bosse; I've got my Marisa Perez down in Lakewood running for City Council; and I've got my two girls Lindsey Horvath & Abbe Land making us proud in West Hollywood.

Do what you can to spread the word about these terrific women who will make a difference in their communities. You want them at the table making policy for you... I assure you, you do, so make it happen!

Day 199: VOTE

There is nothing else to talk about today then VOTING.

I have written for months about my thoughts on candidates and issues on the California ballot. I have also talked about important races throughout the Country.

Whatever your party affiliation or your political leanings, I urge you to exercise your right and VOTE today.

In my local Assembly District (47th) Holly J. Mitchell is my candidate.

In Santa Monica, I support a dynamic education leader and our friend, Laurie Lieberman for Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School Board.

Also in Santa Monica is incumbent Assemblywoman Julia Brownley who is up for re-election, she has my endorsement.

For California Attorney General I am supporting San Fransisco District Attorney Kamala Harris.

For Secretary of State incumbent Debra Bowen has my vote.

And if protecting choice for women is a concern for you, there is no other candidate then Barbara Boxer for the Senate.

And I have discussed my views on Proposition 23 frequently on my Blog. A NO VOTE of Prop 23 will protect California's powerful and vital environmental policies.

Please join with me to support these candidates and issues. Even if you disagree, still vote ... vote for all those around the world who don't have a voice and don't live in a democracy. Your VOTE really does count, and matter ... I know this first hand!

Day 50: 50 Posts to 50

Some things in life you just can't make up, really! Today is the 50th day toward me turning 50 and it's Election Day! (Did you vote yet?) Just perfect! I have been blogging for 50 days now. What, you don't think that's very long? You try being creative & witty & writing something of substance for 50 straight days, and then you'll see it's not so damn easy! But it's very sweet for me today because it's voting day, and ya all know how much I love politics!

I've said it before in previous posts, Blogging is an outlet for us to speak about what's on our mind. Sometimes I write about trivial topics intended to make us laugh. Other times I write more heartfelt and poignant messages about life which are designed to give us pause. All are honest reflections of events, thoughts or feelings that I am experiencing daily and writing about on this Birthday Blog.

I feel as if things have come full circle - that I would make it to 50 days of posting and also have it be Election Day - I'm thinking it's more then coincidental. Not sure what it is - cosmic, spiritual, a message, what!?! Last time I voted, it was for myself. Today I took the college boy with me to vote - he's 19 and the first time he ever cast a vote, he voted for me, his Mom. That is a moment I'll never forget nor a story I'll never tire of sharing. How many Mom's can say that?! That their kid turned voting age and the first time he went to vote, his Mom's name was on the Ballot! Pretty damn cool if you ask me!

So on this 50th milestone day, it's only fitting that I voted for my favorite candidates and issues and I had the college boy with me. Made me very happy. Also, got me thinking about how time has flown by since my election back in March 2009. Only some 15 months ago, yet it feels like a lifetime. Not sure if that's because so much has happened during the past year, or what?

Whatever the reason, I look at what is going on in our City and there are days I feel blessed to not be embroiled in the mess... while other days I feel sad to not be the person to make a difference by taking charge & making our city operate better! Either way, I am happy to have the college boy home for the summer and looking forward to seeing Election results just about now!

Day 49: Vote on Tuesday

Doesn't it feel like there's always an Election! Well, there really is! Tomorrow, Tuesday, June 8 is Election Day in the state of California. Lots of propositions on the ballot and all the Constitutional office seats are up for grabs (Governor, Lt. Governor, Insurance Commissioner, Attorney General, Secretary of State, etc.), but the race I am most invested in is for my own assembly district. Our incumbent is termed out so the seat is open. I am supporting Holly J. Mitchell for the 47th Assembly District.

I have written about Holly on my Blog several times over the past few months. She is a very special woman who shares my beliefs on child advocacy, our foster care system, motherhood and running for public office for the "right" reasons.

Many of you know how important being politically engaged is to me and especially how important it is to me that we elect more qualified women into pubic office. Holly is a businesswoman, mother, daughter, child care advocate, champion of foster care children, pro choice supporter and I am proud to cast my vote for her.

Please join me in supporting Holly in her bid to be our Assembly member. Sacramento needs all the help it can garner, and Holly would be a refreshing break from the posturing politicians who currently occupy the State Capitol. To learn more about Holly before you go to vote tomorrow, please visit http://www.hollyjmitchell.com/ or accept my endorsement of Holly and go cast your vote for her!

Exercise your right, VOTE!