“Every new sun embraces me, and dries up the yesterdays.”
I read that line somewhere a little while ago and stored it in my memory bank for today. I was struck by the way it captures the hopefulness each new day brings, despite whatever might have come before.
Today is one of those “bright line” days in a life. At its end, my life will head in a new direction. I’ll either be a candidate for office in November, or I’ll be planning new ventures as a teacher or as something else.
I’m proud of myself for having the nerve to stick out my neck and subject myself to the risk and scrutiny inherent in people going into a voting booth and either choosing or ignoring my name.
I don’t need the personal validation of an election victory. I know what my gifts and talents are, no matter the outcome. I ran for office for one reason: I have something to offer my community. Too many people in this town operate within the box. I do not. My town needs a new type of thinking soon, even if it doesn’t come from me. But I want to be part of changing the mindset around here, because I know I can really help. But I’m not deluded enough to think I’ve got the market cornered on anything. There are similar-minded people in this town with the desire and the talent to make it happen. They need to be awoken.
I’ve made a lot of new friends on the path of this election, and I’ve also learned just how much some of my old ones respect and support me. I am truly and utterly humbled by their belief in me. Please allow me to name a few of the ones who touched me along the way.
Thank you to every person who took a pen in hand to sign my nominating petition. You changed a task that totally intimidated me into a life-affirming experience. Diane Matichak, thanks for sitting with me at Thirty Buck for an hour-and-a-half one night in early November and notarizing all 100 of my petition sheets. I got 950 of those petition signatures on my own. Thank you to Laci O’Connell and Barb Yanke for getting the rest.
Thank you to Nick Ndoca, my friend Andrew’s brother and, also, my friend, who walked several precincts for me in Shorewood for no other reason than he believes in my ability. And to the others who walked for me when the weather turned cold and blustery enough to sink the Edmund Fitzgerald—my wife Patty, my son Cal, Gia McGrath, Kathe Malinowski, Tim Broderick, Matt Bertani and family, Kevin Codo and Vicki Perella, who took time out from working for Barack Obama to walk all of Rockdale for little ol’ me.
To everybody who helped me fold and prepare campaign literature: Patty, Kathe, Peggy Christensen, Pam Roesel, Kim Swanson, Macilin and Savannah, Meg Honiotes, Mary Hannon and a few others with kind hearts and willing hands who pitched in on a couple of Fridays at Thirty Buck. And thank you to all the people who offered to help, but didn’t get the call. Blame that on me, but also, please forgive me. I made some mistakes in my campaign, the worst of which was failing to use every bit of help that was offered. Please know how much I appreciated your offers, even as I foolishly squandered several of them.
To John Grivetti, a lawyer from near Ottawa, whom I met for the first time in October, for being generous with your encouragement, advice and good conversation.
To Kevin Codo, for being the first to show his support for me with his wallet, and to every other person who supported me in big and small ways monetarily. Having your committee ask your friends and family for money is about the most unpleasant thing you can ever do to them. Thank you all for helping me feel like I wasn’t imposing on our friendships.
To the friends who lent an “ear” when I needed a little humor injected into the nuttiness of keeping all the plates spinning when running for office. Thanks to old friends Dan Skolds, Mike Purviance, Tracey Perez and Marianne Holzhauer for checking in unexpectedly to see how I was doing. And to the best group of friends any guy could ever hope to have: my St. Ray’s crew–Danny Wilson, Andrew Ndoca, David Fehrenbacher, Kevin Codo and Chris Barney. And thanks to Ray Wilson, the most loyal guy on the planet.
Special thanks to Jill Pristach, a good friend who almost single-handedly helped me get my brain around the reason I was running for judge by asking me a simple question: “Why are you doing this?”
Thank you Mary Beth and Tim Rohe for your help with printing. To Rick Thayer for your help with food, but more for just being a good guy who’s always been a friend to me. And to Eric Beltzhoover, who gave me a boatload of personal encouragment as well as a homebase to do my work amongst a roomful of friends.
Thanks to Chantelle Mika, a graphic artist who truly is an artist for her invaluable help with my Web ads and door hangers. To Valerie Gramberg at WJOL, who made it incredibly easy for me to make my radio ads. I don’t think I spent more than 30 total minutes in the studio. Thank you to my cousin Todd, a web designer from Algonquin for giving me design advice and ideas that I used when building my site. Todd, now that Feb. 5 has arrived, I promise I’ll get you that picture!
To the people who told me they’re going to pull a Democratic ballot for the first time, just to vote for me; and to the several people who appear on my opponents’ supporter lists for telling me the voting booth is a sacred place where a person can do what they think is right. And to Paula Gomora for telling me that the people from our old neighborhood are behind me, no matter who the party’s “official” candidate is.
Thank you to my wife Patty for bearing with a cluttered house, cluttered car, and a cluttered life for the last 5 months. I hope today returns some order and normalcy to the house and to our life. To my son Cal for making it through so many days with his dad either gone or busy without flunking out of school or getting arrested. But as of today, the sheriff is back on the job.
Finally, thanks to Gregg, Anton, and above all, Jodi Wartenberg for your help and support. I find myself in the awkward position of Jodi now being fully aware of every good, bad, and in-between thing about me and my personality. The fact that she still seems to like me is something for which I am truly grateful, if somewhat surprised.
Yes, today is a bright line kind of day. It will come, it will go, and my life will be different. And so, I’ll put this post up on the Web, go to work, make my way home, then head out to the Buck to join a bunch of my friends in learning the outcome. Whatever happens, I’m OK with it. Because with so many people behind me, I know Wednesday’s sun will embrace me no matter what lies on the other side of the bright line.
To contact Tim, write him at timplacher@yahoo.com
Timmy, not that I would ever try to speak for the “St. Ray’s Crew”, but please know how proud all the boys are of you. No matter the outcome I think you know how we all feel about you.
You’re obviously the very best we have to offer!
Keep an eye on The K though. I’m still not convinced he’ll pull a Democratic ballot.
I’ll leave you with one thought. You are such a worthy and capable candidate that I bet Fritz Ferhenbacher might even consider voting for you.
Here’s hoping for one of the best evenings The BUCK has ever experienced.
I love you guys
danny wilson