OK, so I want to make a few comments about the impending DC Mayoral election (non DC folk read no further)...I am trying very hard to get excited about Tommy Wells and Charles Allen, but neither has done much to make me feel connected to them. I am a lazy (but typical) voter who generally ignores things, but I know I need to pay attention and get educated now because it matters. First, I will probably vote for Wells and Allen, but I do not feel great about it (which means if the weather sucks or my kids are sick, I am too apathetic to show up). For some reason, I have never really liked Tommy. Im one of those Ward 6 Capitol Hill MoTH types who first met Tommy 11/12 years ago at Riverby books when the MoTH Education Committee (Danielle Ewen) had a meeting to talk about improving schools on the Hill and convincing young middle class families to stay. Despite the fact that schools have improved and I and many others have stayed, I never had a strong feeling that Tommy had played an important role in it. He has always seemed like a typical politician who says the right thing, but never seems sincere. None of this is to suggest that Tommy or Allen (as he is inevitably linked to Tommy) is not sincere. It is just that I am wondering why I feel so luke-warm. Frankly the only reason for me to vote for these two is my connection to and trust in Jen DeMayo, Tim Krepp, and Anne Phelps. As to the candidates themselves, the only one to make any meaningful connection with me was Darrel Thompson because he showed up on my doorstep and actually (seemed) to listen to my answer when asked what issues were most important to me. As to the comments about signage, I see a lot of Muriel signs during my routine travels! Big signs! On the other hand there is a small falling over Tommy sign in one of the tree boxes in front of our house. If I wasnt so luke-warm, I would at least straighten it. It was probably placed there by my neighbor who considers himself an insider to all things DC politics. He seems oblivious to the fact that his staunch anti-charter school stance offends me given the 10 years of successful charter school education my children have experienced. (He and his wife moved here after raising and educating children in the suburbs...they dont even have a dog in this fight.) Worse yet, same neighbor decides to use the morning of the recent marathon to do a little politicking. As I am in front of my house smiling and being pleasant, he comes up and goes all deep throat and with 3/4 of himself turned away from me (we never had this conversation) he says something to the effect of youre voting for Wells, right? I reply that I am kind of interested in Muriel Bowser. He responds (still sotto voce, very cold war spy style) she just isnt very effective...and she can be mean. I just shrug because anything he says just makes me cringe so I do not want to prolong this conversation. In the back of my mind, his comments also set off alarm bells about powerful women, female leaders, being characterized as mean or bossy (even if their male counterparts doing the exact same thing might be called ballsy or leaders). So, my bottom line, Wells and Allen probably have my vote, but it is wishy-washy and half-hearted. Am I wrong to want to feel more convinced about such an important decision? Why is Wells not polling better than he is? Why are people like me (who demographically, statistically) should be squarely behind Tommy feeling so blah? Perhaps if you can answer that question, you could figure out how to get Wells elected and help him have a successful administration. My two cents...
Posted on: Sat, 22 Mar 2014 02:26:18 +0000
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