A First

I had the strangest experience yesterday. I was talking to a registered voter in the Oak Grove district about Cliff Keirce (Independent!) and then briefly talked about Jennifer Wexton and Mike Kondratick (Democrats!) and the voter said,

"What about the Republicans?"

And I said,

"Well, I haven't got any of his literature, but I'm voting for Mike Chapman for Sheriff. He's a Republican."

And he said,

"So you're supporting Republicans as well as Democrats and Independents?"

And I said,

"Yup! I'm not with any organization, I'm voting for all these folks and I hope you will, too."

So, by my own rules, I hearby announce that I am endorsing Republican candidate for Sheriff, Mike Chapman.

This is the first time I've ever supported a Republican. Feels really weird, people.

Back to School Night Report: Eagle Ridge Middle School

Great turnout! I was happy to see so many familiar faces there. I kept hearing over and over, "Yes! Cliff was at my door!" or "He's my neighbor" or "I talked to him at X, Y, or Z event!" or "We saw his wife and daughter here at the 6th Grade BTSN!"

Do I need to tell you how much I love to hear that? LOVE.

Cliff had two volunteers at ERMS and, between Jon and I, we handed out over a thousand pieces of literature.

Shawn Williams and the LCRC were out in force. I met and talked with Mike Chapman, who is a lot taller than I expected.

The only school board candidate represented was Eric Hornberger. His volunteer, Mark, did a great job.

The big surprise of the evening was that Larry Roeder and Anjan Chimaladinne sent volunteers from their campaigns. I spoke with Wayde Byard of the LCPS this morning, and he told me that Eagle Ridge does not have any students from the new Dulles District.

I know that the school boundaries and new electoral boundaries are confusing, but better to miss a BTSN you should have been at than to waste your volunteers' time at a school where the parents can't vote for you.

I'm sorry to say that I'm not shocked that the LCDC didn't send anyone for Andrea and Valdis. But it's not surprising considering that their website, while showing a District Chair for Algonkian:

1. Doesn't have the Ashburn District listed at all.
2. Says the Chair for Broad Run is my friend Dave Nemetz, who a) moved to Fairfax in July, and b) lived in Lansdowne in the Ashburn District.
3. Says the Chair for Dulles is Doug Miller, whose home is now in the Blue Ridge District.
4. Still lists the Potomac District, but doesn't have a chair for that district or for Catoctin.

Which means that unless you're a candidate in Blue Ridge, Leesburg, Algonkian, or Sterling, you haven't got a district chair to help you out. Good luck with that, folks!

LCDC District Chairs

I know Valdis had folks at Belmont Ridge Middle School BTSN last night, and has focused on doors in the ERMS catchment, but where were the LCDC volunteers to hand out his and Andrea's lit?

Passing the baton

It may surprise you to hear it, but lots of people are hesitant about canvassing. They're nervous that people will react negatively to them, that they'll have doors slammed in their faces. That's where the Doorbell Queen excels. I make canvassing look fun and easy. Because to me, it IS fun and easy.

This year, I've taken several first-time canvassers out with me. And I saw them, in the course of a couple of hours, go from being hesitant and nervous, to doing doors with verve and elan. I love hearing about father-daughter canvassing competitions. I love hearing from my co-workers all over the district that Cliff Keirce was at their doors. I love hearing from Jennifer Wexton that a 200-door day is becoming the norm for her.

And I especially love pictures like this:

Yellow Shirts for the Win!

That's Cliff's wife and daughter at Mill Run Elementary's Back to School Night. Cliff's been having such a good time, that they had to join in!

I love seeing that my love of canvassing is infectious. There is no cure for the love of doors.

Now THAT's what I'm talking about

Cliff knocked 151 doors yesterday.

Jennifer Wexton's been out every day (though she needs to post about it more!)

Shanyn Ronis is wearing her shoes out.

I'm so proud of my canvassing proteges! Keep it up!

Origin story

Back in 2009, I got into a competition with Stevens's campaign staff. Whoever knocked more doors than me would be eligible to win a Nintendo DS donated by my mom.

I started blogging the number of doors I did each day. And I started tweeting while canvassing. At the time, I blogged and tweeted as Mystery Mommy (a mommy who reads a lot of mysteries). Shaun Daniels, The World's Best Campaign Manager, suggested I take a different name: one that was more campaign oriented.

Thus, the brag of one particular day became a title I try to earn everytime I go out canvassing. "Mrs. Smug Campaigner, Queen of the Doorbells"

I dare you to out-canvass me.

Stats

Went walking with Cliff Keirce today knocking on the doors of single family homes here in the Oak Grove precinct. Did 81 doors, got 30 signatures, and a promise of a house party. All in less than 3.5 hours. That's about 23 doors an hour.

We need to pick up the speed a bit, but they were all good contacts. I can't wait to do townhomes with him!!

I did double duty today, handing out Wexton for Commonwealth's Attorney lit at the same time.

It was a lovely day for canvassing, but then, what day isn't?

Shouting it from the rooftops

For the first time in my life, I'm endorsing, donating to, and campaigning for someone who is NOT running as a Democrat.

Independent candidate Cliff Keirce is my choice for Supervisor from the new Broad Run district. As I've said before,

"Cliff is a widely known, very popular, well-liked, hugely qualified candidate for this office. He's been Stevens's Planning Commissioner for the last couple of years. Before that, he was on the Facilities Standards Manual Public Review Committee, all while serving on the Broadlands HOA (including as President) and the Loudoun Library Foundation Board. His wife and his children are wonderful people, and he and his family are seriously committed to serving the community."

There is no doubt that Cliff would make a better Supervisor than Shawn Williams.

There is also little doubt in my mind that Cliff will be a better choice for Broad Run than Andrea. He's a better listener, and looks for workable solutions. I've found him to be reasonable, thoughtful, and knowledgeable. These are the traits needed for the Supervisor of the district that will have both the Loudoun Metro stations, and the myriad changes that will come with them.

I've already donated to his campaign ($101, just to make the point), and will be walking for him consistently (probably starting this weekend!)

Did doors with Shanyn Ronis, Valdis Ronis's daughter!

She is an awesome walker. Energetic. Enthusiastic. We were out for over 2 hours, did a TON of doors. It feels like July out there. All you other canvassers, stay hydrated!

In case I haven't mentioned it before, I'm endorsing Valdis Ronis for Supervisor from the new Ashburn District. Tomorrow's a fund-raiser for him, come on out and meet him!

Jennifer Wexton Wrote an Op-Ed Piece

You may not have seen it, because it is only in the print edition of Loudoun Times Mirror (and in their e-edition, scroll to page A21).

Since LTM wouldn't put up a link, you can read it at Jennifer's website!

And while you're there, why not get involved? It's time for a new Commonwealth's Attorney.

Random bullets of a busy weekend

• NARAL Pro-choice VA's LUNAFEST event was splendid! Valdis Ronis and his daughter Shanyn joined us, along with many others. We also got donations from many local businesses, as well as local friends. So here is a thank you to Valdis, Erika, The Reign of Cats and Dogs, and Rouge Spa. Your generosity is appreciated.
• The kick-off for Cliff Keirce was terrific. Bonefish was generous with the food and drinks. I had great conversations with lots of people. People from within and without the new Broad Run were there. Including some people I think Andrea would have expected to be fully with her. I gave a donation, and have pledged to walk with Cliff in Oakgrove and many other precincts. 
• Went to two picnics (one on Saturday with my son's after-school, one on Sunday with the UUs of Sterling).
• On Sunday at church, I was suddenly overwhelmed with gratitude for being a part of the UUs of Sterling. The members of that church are all community-oriented, politically aware, generally progressive. I realized that leaving the LCDC didn't mean I had left the only community that was involved locally in causes that are important to me. 

Went out walking with Jennifer Wexton again!

She is so much fun to walk with! We did doors for about 3 hours on Saturday, and then she ran out of lit, so we stopped for the day. I emailed her more walk sheets for Sunday.

Speaking of Sunday, did anyone get an odd message from two of the LCDems lists that day? If you did, please let me know. liz (at) millerhousehold (dot) com.

My first endorsement

I put some shoe leather in for Jennifer Wexton yesterday. She and I walked my neighborhood gathering signatures for her petition to get on the ballot. We had a great time visiting with my neighbors and talking with a star-struck youngster who thought it was really cool that Stevens and I live around the corner from her.

Jennifer has what it takes to win, and she's committed to it. She did over 40 doors with me, and then went and did over 40 with Evan in the afternoon.

Way to go, Jennifer!!!

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And speaking of candidates who are doing well, have any of you seen Mike Kondratick's VPAP filing this period? He's the 25th in the state for money raised. WAY TO GO, MIKE!!

While we're discussing the door-knocking season

There's one possible candidate who won't be needing me to canvass for him this year.

Stevens, I couldn't be prouder of all the work you've done for Loudoun and Virginia the last few years. Thank you for letting me be part of it.

In training for the season

It's that time of the year again. The time of year when flowers bloom, trees leaf out, and canvassers go knocking.

So, I've broken out my sneakers and I walk over a mile every day to get ready for the door knocking that is to come.

And, of course, Relay for Life. Last year I walked over 20 miles, this year I'm aiming for 26.1.

This year, you'll see me walking for Jennifer Wexton, Mike Kondratick, and anyone running against Eugene Delgaudio, amoung others.

Who are you walking for?

(crossposted at Loudoun Progress)

My personal pledge

Starting with this cycle, and continuing until I say otherwise, I will not endorse any candidate for any office unless I personally put some shoe leather into the game for that candidate.

No walking? No talking.

If you see me endorsing a candidate here, it will mean I put some sweat equity into their campaign.

I may expand this to candidates I donate trackable money to.

Expanding on my comments

Paradox13 put up a post about the redistricting over at Loudoun Progress. And I made a couple of comments there, which I'm going to expand on here.

Stevens disagrees with me on a lot of what I'm about to say, but this is my blog, my opinion, and here it goes.

I don't care one iota if there is one Western district or two. I think having an HOA or a town kept entirely in one district is a fine desire, but not something that ends up mattering a whole lot on election day. I do think that it matters if a district is contiguous. I do think it matters if you have to leave the district to reach another part of it, but ultimately, I think that there are many ways to split up Loudoun relatively equitably and Miller 5 (unamended) and HOA 4 were two of them.

I've said before that I am partisan only inasmuch as the Democratic party is the party that has, as part of its platform, a pledge (among other things) to protect the rights of women, minorities, LGBT, and people with disabilities.

In this county, we have an elected official whose day job it is to fight against the right of people who are gay.

There was one and only one partisan piece of redistricting that was included in both Miller 5 (unamended) and HOA 4. That piece was including MY precinct, Oak Grove, with Delgaudio's district.

And Sally Kurtz amended it into Andrea McGimsey's district.

Which is so phenomenally stupid that I am flabbergasted that Mike Turner is crowing about it.


Oak Grove has a net 100 reliable Democrats. Delgaudio won last time by 200 votes. Oak Grove was the keystone in the plan to get Delgaudio booted out this November. And the beauty of it was, it wasn't gerrymandering, because Oak Grove BELONGS in Sterling. It is otherwise isolated from the rest of the county. There was no way for Delgaudio to complain about it. It was natural to join it in. OF COURSE it should be joined in.


Now, instead of making the demise of Delgaudio's Board tenure a sure thing, Oak Grove is merely there to increase McGimsey's win margin, in an obvious bit of gerrymandering to pull us into her district.

I really like Andrea. I think she's been a good Supervisor. But if this bit of redistricting sends Delgaudio back to the Board next year (especially if he wins by less than 100 votes), I will never forget that it was she, and Mike Turner, and Sally Kurtz, and Kelly Burk, and Susan Buckley, and Jim Burton who made this happen.

And I will make sure that everyone, everywhere, who has ever heard of Delgaudio knows EXACTLY whose fault it is if he wins.

Relay for Life 2011

See that button there?
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Please click on it and donate to the American Cancer Society!! Last year I did 20 miles, I'd like to do 26.1 this year!

Oya Simpson is a finalist for an award!

Oya does a terrific job every year putting together the Earth Day celebration at Clyde's in the Broadlands. She's a phenomenal organizer. Please vote for her!

(via John Stevens)

Back to School Nights!

The weather outside is delightful. Sunsets, balmy breezes, that slight rustle from leaves preparing to change. And that happy refrain, "Hi! I'm Liz Miller! My friend Jeff Barnett is running for Congress!"

Farmers Market Round Up

It was a fun time, but short. The Ashburn Farmers market is open from 8 to noon Saturdays. Produce, eggs, meat, DELICIOUS cupcakes (also available at a kiosk in Dulles Town Center), beautiful breads and pies.

I saw a woman who was toting a Chico bag, and complimented her on it.

Had several great conversations - with vendors, with shoppers, and with Catherine.

There wasn't much of a crowd there, so from a leafleting POV, Leesburg's market is a better bet, but the people were great.