Are you a Democrat?

Because I have not been active in the Champaign County Democrats, there’s suspicion that I’m not really a Democrat.

Let me be clear: I am a Democrat and always have been. I was raised in a Democratic house, with politics instilled by my Mother - a Stevenson Democrat (as in Adlai). Her parents were Roosevelt Democrats (as in FDR).

My mother was active in the movement to pass the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), and worked at the office of the National Organization of Women (NOW) in Washington, DC. As a family, we marched for the ERA and my first car came with a Mondale/Ferraro bumper sticker.

I was taught that we are Democrats because they have better ideas and spend their time in office lifting people up instead of cutting taxes for the rich.

My first political activity was in the 1988 race. I was too young to vote (by one year), but phone banked for a local Democrat running for congress. He lost, but I have an indelible memory of someone answering my question about the presidential race (Bush vs. Dukakis) with the statement that he could never “vote for the evil Duke of Darkness”.

However, while I personally identify as a Democrat, I form my own opinions. I don’t adhere 100% to any policy platform, and I’m not running for County Executive to make it about partisan politics. I’m running as myself, based on my skills - not my party.

My birthday in 1978, with my Mom wearing the National Organization for Women (NOW) shirt. We made that cake together, and I wrote the words on the side.

That’s me standing.