I am not a member of any organized political party. I am a Democrat.

It was true when Will Rogers said it and nothing much has changed since then. After finding our names on the primary petition as candidates from our 91st Election District, we decided to accept the honor --more phone banks, petition signatures, and long meetings in very warm basement halls--who could resist?

We asked if our names would be on the ballot and were told they would not. That's because we would be deemed elected as we were running unopposed. And let me tell you  if you're going to run, unopposed is the way to do it.

Flash forward to the meeting of the Manhattan Democratic County Committee to which all Manhattan Democrats who won their primary were invited. We were invited so we figured we won our primary.

We knew we represented the 91st Election District but oddly we couldn't find it at the meeting anywhere. Eventually we were sent to our 67^th Assembly District. Then when we looked for our names alphabetically we learned the list was by Election District. But, as Democrats, we realized this was business as usual.

(Source: theamericanmaverick.com)

Everybody was there--the elected and the unelected, the successful and the unsuccessful candidates—it seems nobody ever disappears in politics.

This was our first such meeting and it was a hoot. Young people, seniors like us, people on walkers and pushing strollers--people in wheelchairs-- a true cross section of our borough--real grass roots democracy with a small “D.” Plenty of motions, seconds and votes strictly by parliamentary rules; it was highly controlled chaos--elections of the Third Vice Chair were greeted by shouts of “yeah” and “what was that?”

The same folks were coming back indefatigably the next night to elect judicial leaders. The roll call of names was the list of ethnic and national migrations to this country--in a micro kind of way it was very moving. We thought if they could do it so could we and, by the way, so can you. We heard from runoff candidates for Public Advocate and many other County Committee people we never knew did things. We signed the sheets and I expect we'll be called to do more volunteer work and that's ok.

Local issues like housing for the elderly, public schools, street lights, neighborhood overdevelopment --they’re not national but they are our own back yard so I say, go to a meeting of your local Democrat or Republican Club and get involved.

(Source: shutterstock.com)

You'll hear the latest about what’s happening in your New York State Assembly District, the New York City Council and the US House of Representatives directly from your elected officials at those meetings.

It's a privilege to see our system at work and work is the operative word here. They can't govern without us. So go--it's fun and you'll like the people--they're a lot like all of us.

#retiredinnewyork
#engageinpolitics