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Ask Ructions: What Will Take the Chill Off?

by Kevin Rennie

Dear Ructions,

I’m running for local office for the first time this fall. I’m on a slate with five others, all experienced in politics. At least three of us will win because of Connecticut’s minority representation requirements. I’ve been active in school and sports activities and know a lot of people who aren’t in politics but are eager to help me win. My enthusiastic friends think the best way to help me win is to cast their vote for me alone and not the other five members of the ticket. 

Word of their intentions has reached my slate mates and there is a chill whenever we meet. I’m getting the impression the other five would not mind winning without me. No one wants to campaign with me and my signs are not on many lawns of party supporters.

Is there time to turn this around?

Sign me,

Bullet voted

Dear Bullet,

You are about to discover if you have as many friends as you think you do. However many you have, the others have more. I’ll guess that the wound was inflicted by some admirer unleashing the virus on a community Facebook page. Get your friends together—in the flesh, not online—and tell them they must put some of their enthusiasm into helping the other candidates. Ask some of the savvier ones to volunteer to take other candidates around their neighborhoods. They can attest to your virtues between doors (and let you know how people react to them). 

There is no bond like the one that forms trudging from house to house together. This will thaw the air. Tell your friends to post photos of themselves helping the other candidates. Get enough of them attend party events that your fresh contribution is noticed. It never hurts to raise some late money.

That ought to give you a reputation as a team player. What your friends whisper to each other on how to vote, well, there is not much you can do about that.

If you are impaled on the horns of a dilemma and want to risk receiving advice, send a message to kfr@dailyructions.com. Identities will be protected. Messages may be edited.