Citizens to Elect DJ Wilson

After a break for vacation with the family, I was out on the streets doorbelling again today.  I hit the  Emerald Hills neighborhood, one of the highest density areas of voters in the city.

It was hot, hilly and hard.  After about 6 hours in the 85 degree heat, I’m pretty sore.

One conversation today really stands out to me, though.  The voter was over 80, been married over 50 years, and has lived in Edmonds most of her life.  She is strongly religious, very morally conservative, and very generous of spirit.

She made a point of leaving me, after our 20 minute conversation, with two points she asked me to hold in my head as I was knocking on doors.

1.  “Practice your religion.”  More than anything, that means (to her – and me), be benevolent.  Be your brother’s keeper – now more than ever.  “We are all counting on each other, and we cannot let one another down.”

2.  “Where is the outrage from people of your generation?”  She was concerned both by the fact that the country was in turmoil – politically and economically – and that there didn’t seem to be many 30-40 year olds who were trying to do something about it.  “You, your kids, you guys have everything to lose by staying quiet.”

The lesson from doorbelling today is pretty simply, I think:  take care to listen.  There is wisdom to be found at the doorstep of your neighbors.

Just sayin’.

Doorbelling the streets of Edmonds – or any city – gives you an up close and personal view of the true fabric of the community.  By taking the time to walk the streets, rather than drive them, and actually speak to folks gives you a great view into who we are as a community.

I saw this board a few weeks ago, and am only getting around to posting this now.  It’s at the home of a woman who runs a daycare on 3rd.  She turned to me when a developer next door cut down her fence to take down a tree on her property so that the view of the new building wouldn’t be impeded.  It was a disgraceful action, and became a cause I took up on her behalf.

That story is for another time.  Instead, this post is on the lessons she imparts to the children for whom she cares.  You can see the board to the right in the photo above.  The full lesson is posted below.  Good stuff.

Doorbelling is going very well on the campaign trail!  While most candidates despise it, I love it.  It gives you a chance to connect directly with voters in a way that you simply can’t do otherwise.  You hear about the real pressures of this economy, and about the “desperate” nature of folks hurting for work.  It is a tougher time in this economy than many folks realize.

I’ve completed my 18th precinct this week, and hope to get 2 more done by the end of the weekend.  That will put me about 40% of the way through all of Edmonds precincts, meaning I’ve personally knocked on doors of about 2900 homes. 

We have put up about 300 signs throughout the city (though many have come down), and I owe a huge thanks to Dave Page for doing a significant amount of work on our sign effort.

I’ll keep you posted as we move forward over the final few months of the campaign trail!