Politics and a free breakfast

I’ve been getting a lot of invitations to attend kick-off or fund-raising events for our local people who are seeking election or re-election this year.  Usually its early in the morning and breakfast is dangled as a reason to go.

All serious candidates have announced and are in the process of gathering support and that usually starts with getting the endorsement of other elected officials.

Most of the local races are non-partisan but you can usually tell who’s a Republican or who’s a Democrat.  All you have to do is look at the list of those who endorse them.  You can also tell by whom they’ve received campaign funds from.    You can do that by going on line to the Public Disclosure Commission’s web page.

It appears to be a lonely campaign this year. There are few declared candidates and many of the incumbents have yet to receive an opponent.

As of now, I can almost predict the outcome of the races this fall, but I’m going to refrain from doing so right yet.

All I can say is that other candidates will come out of the woodwork as we get closer to filing week next week – – May 13-17.  But, for the most part, those are candidates with little hope of getting elected.

Campaigning for public office, while not a full time job, does take considerable time.  When the candidate is not out shaking hands and door belling houses, she has to be meeting people whose opinion counts.

And, she has to be out raising money.  Even a city council race can cost $10,000 or more.

In a few weeks it will be all worked out.  We’ll know which incumbents will get re-elected and which opponents stand a chance to win.

Until then, I’ll see you at one of the kick-off activities.   I’ve already attended one and have three more in the pipeline.

And, I don’t have to contribute a dime for breakfast, if I don’t want to.