How Hard Can it Be for Toni?

You know--before I retired--Politics was something in the background.  Something I was involved in every election cycle.  Now don't get me wrong, I cared, I just didn't have time to devote to the process.  I had a job in the City and usually was away from home 10 to 14 hours per day and many Saturdays.  That's what it took and I dedicated myself to doing whatever it took to make a decent living and raise 3 children and be a periodic parent to my nieces.  So while I thought I was doing all the right things--I could be classified a apathetic where politics was concerned. My weekends were full of Soccer, Basketball and Football and oh, Boy Scouts.  Well our boy's and girls (5 total) turned out wonderful--steller examples of being raised in the 70's and 80's and now giving us many grandchildren.  They seem to me to be apathetic toward politics---but I kind of understand--of course I prevail on them every chance I get to --pay attention to what is going on in your town.  It is a reality though that the effort and energy that keeps the average citizen above water is often to the detriment of our paying attention.  The modern squirrel cage requires so much effort that it is often to the exclusion of other things we should be paying attention too.  This is one of the main reasons that when we get an opportunity to put in place a person the will definitely stick up for our rights --who has our best interests and our towns best interests at heart---we should take the time to support her and VOTE.

Once retired and after tackling our to do list--I started reading and listening to the local politics.  I thought that our politicians devoted their time out of a need to be patriotic and give back to the community if they could--and for many that seems to be the case.  Also for many--there is an ideological agenda and a career path agenda which often taints their ability to do the right thing.  "Profiles in Courage" was not about going along to get along!

I got fairly interested in the Toni vs Judy race and while we do not know who will ultimately prevail--we can say that the race has not been dull.

What astounds me is the nastiness, half truths and outright lies that are put out there as fact by my fellow Novato citizens. 

I would think that running for this particular office could be likened to getting on horse for the first time--you never quite know what the horse is thinking.  You are not in control until you are up there in the saddle.  A distraction---paper bag blowing by ---could send the horse off on a short race to escape.  Hanging in there though will get you in the saddle and once there you will be in control---so running the gauntlet has it's rewards. 

I have heard enough negative bantering to last me for quite some time---I cannot imagine how Toni and her family weather such rhetoric---but she should know that we the citizens of Novato appreciate her willingness to have her hat in the ring--to run the gauntlet for us---to bring a fresh perspective to Marin.  Win or lose---Toni, and her family are winner's.