This weekend was all about the election, as I’m sure you know. I have a few more photos to share with you. And a few thoughts as well.
Back in January, when I first decided to run, I was told if I worked hard I would win. So I worked hard. I assembled a team of supporters. I acquired the list of registered voters as well as the list of voters who actually participated in the last two local elections. I used those lists to identify not only likely voters but also people I knew personally and people connected with my family. I worked with a fabulous local graphics designer and printing company for all of my PR materials. I met with stake holders in our community and talked to them about my platform and got their support. I went door-to-door in town, I mailed out rack cards, and I attended fundraisers and functions. My supporters and I held signs in the center of our town on Friday evenings, Saturday mornings and, in the week leading up to the election, every night. We did this in some pretty crappy conditions, wind and snow and rain, but we did it because I think people pay attention to it and appreciate it. I used social media to reach out to people and engage with them. I ran a positive campaign, stayed on message, and promoted my ideas for improvements for our town.
On Saturday all of that hard work paid off when I received 1127 votes and my opponent received 611. That’s actually a pretty big turn out for a local election, by the way.
I will say, I was completely prepared to lose and didn’t dare let myself think I would win. The last 15 minutes before the polls closed and then the 15 minutes or so while we waited for the results while the votes were tallied were brutal. And the moment when the Town Clerk read my name was surreal and joyful. I was interviewed almost immediately for our local radio station and then for our town cable station. And I think I said good things, thanking the voters for their support, thanking my team for the hard work they did, and thanking my opponent for running a good, positive campaign. Honestly, though, it’s all a blur and I’ll have to go back and listen and watch to be sure I said all of those things.
In the moments that followed the announcement we took some photos, I texted my close friends, I made sure Dale called his dad, and I shared the news with all of you because I didn’t want you to have to wait until today. And then we celebrated at our local Mexican restaurant. And it was wonderful.
I’ll be sworn in later today and my first meeting as a selectman is tonight. I’m excited for the opportunity and ready to do the real work on behalf of the people who live in my town.
Thank you to all of you for the well wishes and support along this journey! And let’s hope that now I can get back doing some knitting!
