An Open Letter to Carol Schwartz

Dear Carol:

Can I call you Carol? I do think I’ve earned the right, seeing as I’ve been voting for you as long as I’ve been registered to do so. The reason I’ve voted for you so much is that I admire and respect you as a politician. But your activities as of this election year are less than admirable, and Id like to talk to you about that.

You’re not like most of the politicians in the world; you talk the talk and walk the walk. Not only were you a Washington, DC council member, you lived in DC and you sent your kids to DC public schools (I’m not even sure if Id do that). Some residents and businesses in DC haven’t liked some of your most recent actions, like opposing the smoking ban and legislating paid leave for employees of DC businesses, but I was behind you all the way. Perhaps my support, and the support of others, assisted in landing you in the pickle you’re in today.

You see Carol, the problem you’re currently having is due to your complacency. Due to your belief that DC residents loved you so much, you didn’t have to work for their support anymore. Given the results of the recent primary, you finally discovered that to be untrue. Had you not sat on your laurels and actually got out there and campaigned, talked to the people about what you have done in the past and what you’ve got planned for the future, this might not have happened.

I’ve read what you’ve said about your opponent, Patrick Mara, and how you think he’s won the primary. Perhaps you’re a little bit right. Maybe Mara did pander to the college students, I mean DC his predominately Black, so we’re predominantly Democrat, so it coulda happened, but I don’t think that’s completely the reason he won the election. Mara did the work – he went door-to-door talking to voters, he put his name out there, he let folks know what he stood for, and I don’t have to tell you that his approach worked when you consider the lackadaisical opponent he was up against. The voters are tired of your ways Carol.

So, now you’re doing what you said you’d never do: a write-in campaign for one of the council’s at-large seats. And you seem to have approached this undertaking with renewed energy. Slowly but surely, you seem to realize that the voters need to see some action, some interest out of our candidates, and I think that’s a good thing. But will it work? I mean, do you really think you’ll get enough votes to win one of those coveted seats? You’re up against some really well known candidates, including Michael A. Brown and that Kwame dude. They’re not perfect either, but I think they are going to give you a run for your money.

Now, don’t let the negative tone of this letter get you down Carol, I haven’t gone completely against you: You haven’t lost my vote. I like you. I’ve voted for you in every election you’ve been in, ever since I’ve been able to vote. Ill probably write you in in every election I participate in if I don’t like the candidates on the ballot (that is when I don’t write in my cat Ivan). But while my vote is guaranteed, others’ aren’t. And you need to work on that.

So, pick yourself up from this defeat, dust yourself off, call up all of your old supporters, and go out and campaign like you’ve never campaigned before! Because it just might be your last.

Signed, your supporter,
Lola Gets