To My Many Supporters

I want to take a minute to thank all of you that have in one   From moral support to advice, to holding signs, hosting signs and contributing finances, attending events or hosting events, in one way or another, and in many cases in many ways, you all have been so very encouraging. And for all the notes and messages offer support over the last few days, thank you.
way or another been so very supportive of my effort to run for State Representative.

While I knew all along I was a serious underdog, I never wavered in my belief that I  I had a shot at winning this!  Naïve maybe, but I suppose confidence in one’s chance of winning is not a bad thing.  Sure feeds the motivation to work long hours.  I met so many people along the way that served to bolster my confidence and give me energy to continue.  The 72 – 28 % gap hit me pretty hard but on reflection I realize the majority of people that voted for me had never heard of me a couple months ago so all in all I know I did well.  I spent yesterday licking my wounds but today I am back, trying to figure out where to go from here.

One of the many interesting lessons of this campaign is the number of people that told me their stories in the hopes that I would be able to help them.  I sincerely hope I can still find a way to do that.  I know I could keep doing what I’ve been doing and help individuals as I encounter them but I would very much like to find a systemic way to help.  Many of the issues stem from an overarching difficulty in accessing services for those in need.  Be it gaining access to Veteran’s services, to educational services, understanding how to comply with insurance requirements or applying for EBT cards (food stamps), the issues are similar.  The systems are just too complex.  It is not all that different from the difficulty we have faced over the last ten years accessing services for our children and our family.

People in stressful situations, as all of the above-mentioned are, have about all they can do just getting through the day, never mind trying to navigate the mine field of social services.   Wouldn’t it be lovely if we could find a way to ease the path to assistance on which so many of us wander?

Another avenue I would love to pursue is transparency in the state house.  This is something that has baffled me for a couple years but even more so since I ran for office. 

For some time I have struggled with how to follow a bill through the state house, or how to know what bills were being considered in regards to a specific topic and when they will be open for public comment and when they will be voted on.  It is possible but not easy to find that information.  And the discussions surrounding these pieces of legislation, I have yet to find a resource that documents the conversations for and against a bill.   There are several legislative committees but what do they talk about, what do they do?

And on a more personal level, where does Representative X or Senator Y stand on specific issues?  What, specifically, has he or she done to promote an issue or fight against anything.  What has he gone to bat for on Beacon Hill?  Other than putting her name on a bill as a sponsor, what has she done to move the bill forward?  I know I can find out what our legislators tell us and I can find out what I read in the paper, but is that all there is to know?  For some people that information is fairly scant, does that mean they don’t do much?

Seems to me it would be in the people of Massachusetts’ best interest to have access to this kind of information.  We vote these people into office, shouldn’t we know what we are getting for our vote?

These are some of the ‘great thoughts’ I am thinking.  Not sure where I will go from here but I am confident something useful will come of this adventure.

Many have asked if I will run again and if I will register as a democrat.  To both I can just say, “I don’t know”.  Running for office again depends on where my journey leads me.   I certainly do not rule it out but, ‘it depends’.  It would be nice after 10 years to get a job with an actual paycheck and this campaign took at a minimum 60 hours of my time each week.  At my advanced age, I don’t have the energy to hold down a ‘real’ job and run a campaign like this.  And whether or not I register as a democrat also ‘depends’.  I might.  I also plan to look into Evan Falchuk’s United Independent Party.  I don’t know much of anything about it right now but I like the concept.

In the short term, Bob and I are going to escape to Portland Maine for a couple days and catch up on some rest and maybe read a good book or two.  Open to suggestions for escapist reading.

Thank you to all of you.  You guys rock!
 

Leadership for Waltham

As one of my beloved son’s likes to say, “Oookaay, allllrrrright’.  I’m sure you knew this was coming, at least, I am certain those that know me at all knew I would have something to say.

Dear Mr. Stanley,

We get along so well, don’t you think?  I am not being facetious, I think we have gotten along well.  Yet I fear there may be a problem that has yet to be uncovered.  A couple weeks ago I took exception to what you had published in the Waltham Tribune, see http://sharonforrep.blogspot.com/2014/10/dear-mr-stanley.html for a refresher.  At that time I took the approach that your memory had failed you on several key points.  Now however, I have to think it is something more insidious than a failed memory.  You know as well as I do that you were invited to a candidate forum by the Lincoln Democratic Town Committee and by the 3^rd MAD Democratic Committee.  And that you were offered several dates from which to choose.  I know because I received a copy of the same email you did.  Why would you tell the public, your constituents, that is not the case? 

Mr. Stanley, what is going on?  Your signs all tout Leadership for Waltham.  Let’s leave out the fact that this ignores a significant portion of the district, that being Lincoln, what qualities do you think are necessary to be a leader?  Surely honesty would be among them.  Having a proactive approach is also an important quality in a leader, would you agree? 

Let us analyze this piece of your recent letter to the editor in the Waltham Tribune. 

As for the orchestrated attempt to imply I am avoiding a public debate, I have not received such an invitation from any civic, business or community organization during this election campaign.  In the past, I have participated in all I have been invited to.

How can you in all seriousness publish this?  I refer you to the following email, dated September 26, 2014:

Dear Tom,
The Lincoln Democratic Town Committee and the 3rd Middlesex Area Democrats would like to invite you to a FORUM wherein you and Sharon would be asked a series of questions on your candidacies for 9th Middlesex District.  When 3M has a FORUM (not a debate) we use LWV format and certified moderators. The rules - which both sides will have to agree upon - have been vetted many times.
To start - would you please let me know if either of the following dates and times would be possible for you for this event.
Location: Waltham Public Library Lecture Hall
Date/Time; Either Thurs 10/23 630-830PM (forum 7-8)
                     Or      Sat 10/25.   1230-230PM (forum 1-2)
If these don't work, please let me know another date that might.
Thank you very much for letting us know ASAP for volunteer scheduling purposes.

Don’t you think that at a minimum the people you serve deserve to know the truth?  You will recall the Waltham Tribune also asked you to engage in a debate.  I am sure you have a good reason for not agreeing to a forum or a debate to discuss the issues, but please do not say you were not invited.

On the other hand, even if you had not been invited, as someone that is advertising ‘Leadership for Waltham”, wouldn’t it be incumbent on you to initiate the debate yourself?  You are a seasoned candidate, you have been doing this since 2001.  Why would you sit back and wait for someone else to initiate a debate?  You should be three steps ahead of me and of the democratic party.  Communication, as I am sure you know, is an integral part of leadership.  As a leader I would expect you to be getting out in front of issues, taking the opportunity to show the community who you are and why what you have to offer is better than what your opponent offers.  

You cannot lead from behind.  Well, I suppose you might be able to but I would not think that is a wise strategy.

The second point I would like to comment on, and this, I promise, is the last point.  From your same letter,

I spend a lot of time in both of the communities I represent, Waltham and Lincoln. I attend meetings and events, I regularly distribute questionnaires on state and local issues to solicit feedback from my constituents and I spend a lot of time knocking on doors, trying to meet as many people as I can.

No you do not.  You certainly do not spend ‘a lot of time in Lincoln’.  You have been representing Lincoln for almost two years yet almost no one in Lincoln knows who you are.  You will recall I first contacted you via email on January 30, 2013 to say hello and welcome you to Lincoln yet I do not recall ever seeing a questionnaire from you, not through email or US mail or from any other method.  Dear Mr. Stanley, I do not understand your strategy but believe me, sticking to the facts is always easier in the long run.

Here is what we tell our children.  If you want to us to believe you, you have to establish a pattern of telling the truth.  And leadership, while I guess it technically does not require truth telling, a quality leader certainly makes it part of his or her repertoire.

I wish you well,

Sharon