ADVOCACY FROM MY LOVELY DAUGHTER, DARBY, WHO LIVES IN ATLANTA
I’ve always been a curious person, an information seeker. I like to read, listen, do my homework. I have always liked to be “in the know” - pop culture, music, politics, science, you name it.
Engaging in the political process around electing a President was another one of those things - I read, I listened, did my homework. I watched the debates, I engaged in conversations (and arguments) with friends and family, I was INFORMED when I cast my ballot. I have always been very proud of my preparedness.
My husband and I have lived in Atlanta for the last five years; this was a dramatic change in culture and expectations for both of us. Our local view of what is happening across the country were daunting: I watched Brian Kemp use voter suppression tactics to steal an election out from under Stacey Abrams, I watched Jon Ossoff lose a special runoff that excited the whole city, and then I watched Kelly Loeffler just given a Senate seat. I watched this city erupt into protests, and on those first few nights into riots, I watched Keisha Lance-Bottoms deliver messages to the people of this city that were moving and profound, but then I watched her put a curfew in place without ways for protesters to get home or be allowed to leave peacefully. I marched on the streets of Atlanta led by a city councilman I had never heard, but with just a little time found myself inspired by him. What I saw on TV and in the streets of Atlanta moved me and got me thinking about elections more broadly than ever before. Relevant to my city and the social unrest I am a part of:
Who was that inspiring City Councilman? Who was MY City Councilman? Wait, what does a City Council do? When is Keisha Lance-Bottoms up for re-election? Who is running for Fulton County Sheriff? Who is running for District Attorney? Why was I only engaged in politics and the people elected to serve us on a national level every two or four years? Why was I not holding those elected accountable? Not only did I not know who the people were or what they stood for as I voted down ballot, but once those big races were done, I didn’t think about it again until it was literally right in front of me.
That's strange right? Yes, the President enacts change and policy, but why do we spend 99% of our energy on an election where your vote is 1 in 180 Million. In this city, where my vote is more like 1 in 100,000, elected officials are deciding whether or not to mandate masks, whether or not to create affordable housing, whether to defund or expand the police, whether or not to expand or limit government.
The Georgia Primary had been moved to June 9th, I vowed that I would know every candidate, I would vote for the Atlanta that I want to see, but I found that process maddeningly difficult. It was a full-time job to get all of the information (especially in a primary) that I found myself asking my colleagues what they do to educate themselves. This is when a co-worker showed me Branch.vote. I went online, entered my zip code, and the entire ballot for the primary loaded. It’s a non-partisan website that interviews candidates and outlines their top priorities, their stances on key issues, and their campaign finance donations.
I sat with Terry and we read each outline for every single candidate (they also come in Podcast form!)
It is 100% the MOST informed I have ever been in my 18 years of voting – and guess what? I’m 100% more engaged with my city, with my community and I’m ready to hold each and every one of them accountable. I believe that the more informed you are, the harder it is to ignore what’s happening (isn’t there a saying for this? ☺ )
I share this because Branch has started a Kickstarter so that they can expand this platform. I want to help them grow so that each and every one of you to have easy access to this information in your cities and towns.
If Covid-19 and the past 5 months have taught me anything, it’s that your leaders in your city and state have as much, if not more, impact on your day to day life than federal leadership. So this is not about blue vs. red or to push my agenda or personal beliefs. This is 100% about learning about ALL candidates and issues so that you can vote for the city, state, and country YOU want.
If you would - consider donating here – you can read more about their mission and what the site is able to do and what it wants to do:
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