So, how would I describe the last few weeks?  It was a lot of work, no doubt.  I have walked and walked and walked.  And, when I wasn’t walking, I was thinking about where I was going to walk next.  Of course, the slew of endorsement interviews became so repetitive that they led to frustration.  Frustration from being taken away from more walking!  Of course, I really should not be so distraught over the interviews because for the most part they resulted in a great outcome.  I was fortunate to earn the endorsement of almost every major organization.  That includes the police and firefighter associations, the local teachers groups, and the Sierra Club.  The biggest nod of approval came from the San Jose Mercury News on May 20^th.  The reasoning behind the editorial board’s recommendation was the final piece that justified a consideration of voting for this first-time candidate.   

Now, what was the purpose of walking?  For me, there were two reasons I walked.  To introduce myself to the voters and to hear what the concerns of the community are throughout the Council District.  The ultimate goal, as far as election day is concerned, is to have volunteers and I walk so we can identify folks who would actually be willing to vote for me.  The true test of the campaign all comes down to today.  After all, someone saying they will vote and actually doing it can be the difference between someone knocking on their door during election day or not.  I have volunteered many times for other campaigns and have always enjoyed election day.  It is definitely a culmination of many weeks and months of hard, hard work.  The payoff is in the final numbers.  One of the more subtle goals of the election day madness is the concept of getting someone out to vote.  In some way, by encouraging someone to vote in a meaningful manner, demonstrates the most basic form of democracy.  To believe in something or someone so much that you show ultimate concern in the exercise of another’s democratic right is a powerful act of self-determination.  I have got to say, it is a truly humbling feeling to have so many volunteers taking time to convince folks to make it to the polls for me.   

The reality is that for this election to be a smashing success, I will have to get more votes than all of the other five candidates combined.  Anything less than an outright win means that we will have to start this whole process again.  From fundraising to reaching out to a whole new set of voters.  Those voters are the people who just do not vote in primaries, and there are a lot of them.  This is especially true in a primary that falls between a Presidential primary and election.  If that is the fate that is decided by the voters, than I am up for it.  But, I might just take a couple days off.  After all, I have to be back at my day job next Monday.  That has got to be the most grueling three months vacation I have ever taken.  All right.  Eyes are getting heavier now.  It has crept past 1:58 in the morning now.  Only 18 hours to go.  Time to go to sleep.  Remember, I’ve got some doors to knock on tomorrow.