Whose Democratic Party Is It?

[MrMickeysMom]

39. As I mentioned just now in your PM...

My Saturday tasks after checking into DU was to do yard work and take time to exercise after a stressful work-week. Had I known you expected such a quick response, I would have taken the time to warn you, which I will have to remember from now, should I ever ask you a DU question …

Anyway, my response...
Your experience with local Democratic party is admirable. I wish all committees from the municipal to state level ran as you've described. I congratulate you on that success. I see you ran for public office and so did I.

From the time of my first win in a special election, I was an aberration to locals in this community and to those serving them on municipal council. They didn't know who I was and didn't take me seriously. The council members all but one were Democrats. I asked appropriately hard questions to account for any risk in the way our post employment benefits were being handled. This infuriated the mayor, council and some those in the shadows who were interested in leaving that and other things alone. This developed into a bit of a witch hunt (make no mistake, I was routinely targeted on camera). Still, I ran the following year and won again. But, after what followed in those four years (primarily about responsible budgeting and managing the police force), I stepped over the line where the chief of police was doing, so, as I expected, I not win my primary in 2013. Now, a few years later, everyone who questioned as I did are all still held up in frivolous law suites and we have is less transparency than ever. Well, this was what I worked hard to assure. But, I still have the words documented, and I imagine it will take some time for people to really see what is currently a festering problem.

Do I regret? Absolutely not. It was a lesson in life that I carry on and incorporate into what I know and how I continue to act, which is to say, to thine own self am I true. I can explain probably better than most (certainly than most serving local government here) what the issues of public safety and public works should focus on.

While in office, I followed through with every constituent and recognized good neighbors from bad. But, I will tell you that my colleagues who served with me, save for two or three, responded less than admirably. I can tell you all about good cops and bad cops. I can tell you all about good solicitors and bad ones. I can also tell you that for hard work and speaking truth to power, I rubbed some very influential people the wrong way who knew I would not join the inner sanctum of a very corrupt Democratic party. I've often referred to what happens here and in some other local municipalities as "a jobs program". It was pretty much in the way Tammany Hall ran NYC throughout much of the 19th century.

I'm proud of what I tried to do during this time, but for reasons that cannot be discussed, I'm the poster-girl for the saying, "no good deed goes unpunished". I wish all Democratic committees were like the one you are involved in.

The truth is, power corrupts in all places where people do not stand up to it. Where I am, I can at least say I tried. But, if anyone at this point in time ran against the members of municipal council with the intent of examining budget, police and favors "in the sunshine", they would be met with the same group mentality, which unfortunately comes from the local Democrats the same way it comes from the local Republicans in my little burg.

I'm glad I had the time to report this to you. I wish you and everyone who tries to make a difference all the best. Realize that you must be strong. We must all be that way, and I am peppered to stand up to anything now.