Sharking for Congress
I haven't posted for a while, for a simple reason: I am now engaged in a congressional campaign. Not my own, alas - there are still misgivings about electing actual sharks to the legislature - but this one.
Since this campaign is taking place in a solidly Democratic district, New York's Eleventh, our general election really is the primary, which will take place on September 12th. This race has gotten national attention for a very simple reason: the 11th is a so-called voting rights district, meaning it was carved out in accordance with the ideas of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, which covers the old Confederacy, parts of Pennsylvania, and New York, Kings and Queens counties in this state. Accordingly, this district has been represented since 1968 by a black person, first by Shirley Chisholm, the first black woman elected to Congress, and then by Major Owens, who is retiring. However, the best-financed contender is one David Yassky, a member of the City Council, who happens to be white, and is running a strategy of prevailing in a four-way primary against three black contenders.
The hours, needless to say, are ridiculous, which cuts down on blogging time. I'll try to post a thing or two, but these days, whenever I paddle back home, it is really mainly to sleep a wink or two. Of course, I do encourage support of my candidate, perhaps with a donation. One thing I can honestly say is that, of all the contenders and office-holders I have ever met, Chris Owens is the best - by a mile.
Since this campaign is taking place in a solidly Democratic district, New York's Eleventh, our general election really is the primary, which will take place on September 12th. This race has gotten national attention for a very simple reason: the 11th is a so-called voting rights district, meaning it was carved out in accordance with the ideas of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, which covers the old Confederacy, parts of Pennsylvania, and New York, Kings and Queens counties in this state. Accordingly, this district has been represented since 1968 by a black person, first by Shirley Chisholm, the first black woman elected to Congress, and then by Major Owens, who is retiring. However, the best-financed contender is one David Yassky, a member of the City Council, who happens to be white, and is running a strategy of prevailing in a four-way primary against three black contenders.
The hours, needless to say, are ridiculous, which cuts down on blogging time. I'll try to post a thing or two, but these days, whenever I paddle back home, it is really mainly to sleep a wink or two. Of course, I do encourage support of my candidate, perhaps with a donation. One thing I can honestly say is that, of all the contenders and office-holders I have ever met, Chris Owens is the best - by a mile.
posted by Michael at 8:19 AM
<< Home