Ten Ways to Lose An Election (With Your Soul Intact)

1.  Turn down campaign contributions and ask people to invest in their local economy instead.

2.  Put your name in little bitty text on all campaign materials, in order to focus on what's really at stake:  your community.

3.  Put up a grand total of 5 yards signs in the entire town... in order to minimize political dissent between neighbors (but still let the world recognize your name on the ballot)
 
4.  Be the 1.2%.
 
5.  Speak up when those in your registered party act without logic, or worse: remain silent.
 
6.  Encourage others to run against you.
 
7.  Have coffee with those who would never ever vote for you.

8.  Publicly support liquor, fairness, and the mingling of races.

9.  Ask fellow voters what they are willing to do to make things happen.

10. Promise little.  Listen a lot.  Act even more.

Who are we kidding folks, I don't have a chance.  

Unless of course you want to prove the world wrong by showing up at the polls on November 4th in masses.  Unless you want to buck "politics as usual" and demonstrate that civic participation can be kind-spirited, cooperative, non-partisan, and authentic.  Unless you feel called to support a long-shot candidate running on an $800 riding lawn mower budget, purposeful naivete, and the founding principles of love and inclusivity of this town.   

The most well-meaning experts tell me I don't have a chance.  That this very blog is political suicide.  Any chance you want to help me prove that we can do things differently, that authentic voices of ordinary citizens matter?  If so, you can start by sharing this on your social media platform of choice.  Oh, and maybe consider running too?