WILLIAMSON
FOR
U.S. CONGRESS
DEMOCRAT
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 6
“The Future Can Be Ours.”
480-607-9726
Dear Friend,
Suspense was in the air last night, I have to admit, before my daughter’s
boyfriend, Cliff, was able to access the election results on his cell
phone around 8:30 PM. My daughter didn’t get off work till 8:00, we were
going to depart shortly for the Renaissance Hotel for the Arizona
Democratic Party Election Watch.
65% to 35% is where it was, and would remain pretty much the same for the
rest of the night. Schweikert ahead.
I’ve lived in Legislative District 23–used to be LD 28 quite a while
back–and I’m not unfamiliar with the political demographics in this area.
I don’t think I had any illusions going into this election; so I was
prepared for the worst.
But now–24 hours later–I’m exhilarated.
Got an e-mail from a friend who said that to get more than 1/3 of the
votes is really good, considering that I was running against the
incumbent. I received similar comments throughout the day.
One thing my Mom has said in the past whenever one of her three kids,
including me, brought news of some grand idea to her, looking for
validation of the brillance of the thought, was: “It has possibilities.”
Thus, maybe my sister might say to her: “Mom! I’m taking this ballet
class, and it’s just the thing I need to improve my dancing!” Mom would
never say: “Great idea. Go for it.” Instead she would say, tantalizingly:
“That has possibilities.”
Next time, as far as how the campaign was run, we can improve by doing
things we didn’t do this time. And some things we did this time we can do
better.
An election is a great thing, especially in our country, mainly because we
know they’re going to happen at least every two years. Our laws specify an
orderly process by which we choose our new leaders. Obviously, this does
not happen in every country. We must protect our basic electoral
procedures at all costs. I commend the Federal Election Commission, the
Arizona Secretary of State’s office, and the office of the Maricopa County
Recorder in this regard. Orderly and fair elections are a sign we are a
free country; all the more reason that people should be sure to vote, even
if the negative ads keep coming at us on TV. Perhaps people should, as a
consequence of this, read the newspapers more and watch TV less. Reading
may, in some people’s minds, be old-fashioned; but it’s tried and tested
and perhaps more under our control. As an English teacher, I find this
idea appealing.
In any case, although Mom did not say those three words I mentioned above
when I told her I got 35% of the vote,–she said something like “that’s
good”–, nonetheless it was a situation where she might easily have said:
“35% has possibilities.” Because if she did say that, I think she would be
right: 35% of the vote–54,000 plus votes–is a lot of people; about the
amount, as my sister pointed out, in a football stadium. Not insignificant;
not to be taken lightly. An open
door to a higher total next time; a prospect that does not bode ill for
winning in the future. The glass, after all, as Senator DeConcini has
said, is half full.
Having encountered the Schweikert juggernaut–kind of like meeting up with
a borg (a type of cyborg in Star Trek that devours everything in its
path), I nevertheless find the sun still rose this morning, kids are still
going to school, and Thanksgiving Break will be upon us before we know it.
Another friend told me, in the course of the race, referring to my role as
Democratic candidate: “Someone’s got to do it.” He was right; and I’m okay
with that. Someday, as I get my key to my new office in the Longworth
House Office Building in Washington as I prepare for my role as member of
Congress for Congressional District 6, he may say that to me again:
“Someone’s got to do it.” I’ll be okay with that, too.
Thank you for your time, your support, and your encouragement.
Sincerely,
John
W. John Williamson
Scottsdale, Arizona