Day 280: Trolling for Votes

Today was a gorgeous sunshine day in Southern California! A day to be outside that's for sure. I spent the day walking precincts for my friend Marisa Perez who is a candidate for Lakewood City Council. Nothing like getting out and meeting voters face-to-face!

If you have never stomped for votes, I recommend you give it a try. It can be very empowering and invigorating. It also can be very frustrating to see how few people really care about who their elected leaders are... yet they are probably the loudest complainers!

Walking door-to-door today brought up a lot of emotions for me about my own campaign and the experiences I encountered when knocking on my neighbor's doors. Residents in the 5th district in Los Angeles, where I ran for city council, were far more rude and hostile then in the small town of Lakewood. It's also different when you are not the candidate. It's not as personal. It's hard to stand at someones door and have them size you up, make rude comments, slam the door, or yell at you ... yet it is the most effective tool when campaigning for a municipal race.

The personal connection leaves an indelible mark on voters. They are impressed that you have come to their door, taken your time to share a candidate with them.

If you really want to help a candidate win, their are two invaluable tasks you can perform to ensure victory ... make a contribution & walk on their behalf! To learn more about my friend Marisa, visit www.marisaforlakewoodcouncil.com

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 156: A Race in Delaware

You say why should I care about a Senate race in the state of Delaware? You may even say where is Delaware? But if you have followed the news in recent days you are well aware that Delaware has been turned upside down politically.

Both candidates who made it past their primary and are now in a General Election in November, could not be farther apart from one another. And here's why it should matter to you.

I met Chris Coons tonight at an event hosted for his Delaware Senate campaign here in Los Angeles. You say why would I have attended an event for a senate candidate from Delaware? Well his opponent is a Tea Party Republican woman, endorsed by Sarah Palin (do I need to say more?) who believes we should have prayer in school, believes we should teach abstinence to our students, as well as creationism, believes being gay is a genetically immoral behavior, is anti-choice ... shall I continue or are you sick enough?

While I rarely dabble in National politics - for two reasons - One, I am a local political gal ... I want to have a say and influence on the issues that directly impact my daily life and I feel more empowered being involved locally. And second, National politics is expensive. But on Friday I received a phone call from candidate Chris Coons. Yes, a personal phone call inviting me to tonight's event and sharing with me why this race mattered to me - a woman here in Los Angeles. I have to tell you I was impressed.

Impressed that he took the time to make a call to me -- a low profile pisher donor and as a former candidate impressed that he was reaching out beyond his home state for well needed resources. Since his opponent won her Republican nomination one week ago she has raised a whopping 2 million dollars on line. So yes he needs the resources badly! So his personal call weighed heavy on me. And so did what was at stake if he lost.

A woman who would have a vote on all the issues I care deeply about could be elected to the US Senate and I couldn't allow that to happen. This woman wants to deny people the right to marry whomever they chose to; deny us the right to make our own family planning decisions; implement prayer in the classroom; and deny our children correct sex education while promoting abstinence as a sex education lesson plan.

So for many reasons that I care deeply about, I ventured out on a Monday night to support a man who is incredibly impressive - for his intelligence, his passion for the issues I care about, his poise and his commitment to help both Delaware residents, and all Americans get their lives back on track. I'm hoping you'll join with me to support Chris Coons -- anyway you can.

To learn more about the candidate I am supporting, visit: www.ChrisCoons.com

Day 121: Only 90 Years

I attended a panel discussion this evening reflecting on Women's Suffrage. For my followers who are too young to know what this is, it's when women won the right to VOTE. It's amazing to me that it's been only 90 years since women won their fight to participate in the voting process. Can you believe that? This means that if you have a Mom, Aunt, or Grandmother who is in her 90s, then when she was born her mother couldn't vote. That's worth taking a pause over. Can you imagine living in a country that doesn't allow the entire citizenry the right to vote.

Unfortunately many parts of the world today still deny women this right. It's criminal what many women endure in other countries. Denied access to education, health care, rights and yes of course the right to vote.

Tonight's event was co-sponsored by the National Women's Political Caucus, LA Westside chapter. I sit on the Board of Directors and have been an active member for a dozen years.

The title of this evening's panel was "We've Come Along Way, MAYBE". Women have made incredible strides over the past 90 years. Just last week we celebrated Elena Kagan being nominated to the United States Supreme Court-- now three women sit on this highest court of the land. Pretty impressive given we were only allowed to vote 90 years ago!

But there's no doubt we have not come as far as is necessary. Women still only make 70 cents on the dollar, far less than their male counterparts performing comparable work.

Today's panel included some of my favorite gal pals: Robin Sax who just rocks it when she speaks; Lindsay Bubar, NWPC co-President representing young women on the panel; and Holly J. Mitchell, who just won her primary for the 47th Assembly District (that's my neighborhood). These women each spoke about their experiences in the workplace and in life and how we've come along in many areas, but there is still much work to be accomplished.

Pictured here from left to right are Lindsay Bubar, co-President of NWPC, LA Westside and one of tonight's panelist; Robin Sax, Legal Analyst and Women & Children's Advocate; and Betsy Johnson, co-President of NWPC LA Westside.

All women in this country should give special thanks and recognition to our foremothers who fought, literally risked their lives, served in jail, were ridiculed by family and community so that today we can exercise our right to vote. Don't ever forget those that came before you and what they did and sacrificed so we can have what we have today.

Happy 90 Year's to The Woman's VOTE!

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!