Elections are coming up and I think I need to clarify things with campaigns. I occasionally will write about a candidate if I either know them personally or meet them organically.

Or I will write about politicians if I think they are such bad news based upon past behavior that I think people need to know so they make an informed choice. So far I have three candidates who fit into this category. Two for this coming November, 2019 and one for the spring primary of 2020.

I don’t get “set up” to meet people and then write about them if that makes any sense.

I am an independent so I am not beholden to either political party and if a particular candidate from a particular party gets a thumbs up from me it’s because I have met them organically and they struck a positive chord with me.

I wrote about a candidate over the weekend and I have already been contacted by other campaigns of all levels of office. I don’t want to be rude or unfair but this is my thought process and I do not deviate from it. I do it my way, on my terms, and if I want political matchmakers involved to make an introduction, I do the asking.

And the reason is simple: in years past I have had candidates literally sent to my door who were door knocking. I was used by those candidates for a good word. Once my good word was out there, they were done. I will not be used again. Been there, done that, got the proverbial T-shirt.

I have met and conversed with lots of interesting people over the years including one First Lady whom I still wish would run for office. I was introduced and spoke with many amazing people at the RNC 2000 which was held in Philadelphia. There I was a media relations volunteer so I had the added education of being able to interact with top national and international media. You learn from all of these people if you pay attention.

Also one reason I have been fortunate to meet all sorts of interesting political people over the years is I am open to meeting people from both political parties. I don’t think because someone is a Democrat or because someone is a Republican that they are going to be a good or bad person based on their political persuasion.

I also am of the opinion that I don’t care what level of office nationally, locally, or regionally you’re running for, you should be able to have a conversation with an ordinary person like me who doesn’t write you big lovely donation checks.

I personally look for candidates that I think can be independent of their respective political parties. Sometimes my instincts are right, other times my instincts have been wrong. I am thinking in two cases from last year I am not sure I made the right decision so I may be correcting that decision with future votes.

I am not someone who donates to political campaigns. I have never done it, and I don’t believe in it. If someone wants my vote, they can earn it the old-fashioned way and talk to me.

As Americans one of the best things we can do for ourselves is to exercise our power of the vote. And I encourage everyone no matter where they live to vote independently. I used to have a friend who would literally say to her other friends “Tell me how I should vote in this election.”

Do not count on the opinions of others.

Don’t be a sheeple.

Become informed on your own. Learn about your candidates and don’t just pull the lever because you are one party or the other.

The last days of summer are upon us and the midterm elections soon to follow. Do your own homework. Make informed decisions.

Don’t be politically Stepford.

My biggest thing with the political process in this country is we need more balance. One party over the other having supreme power is not healthy for us as Americans. We need moderation and an end to political extremism.

Happy Monday!