1st Congressional District Candidates

A Note on Picking Delegates

The Democratic Party's National Convention could make a big difference in the selection of our nominee and the ultimate President of the United States this year. Because of this, I encourage you to take voting for delegates seriously. If we send people who are weak in their enthusiasm for our candidate, it could cost the nomination. If we send people who are well equipped to act on our behalf, it could make the difference in wrapping up the nomination!

Please think of this as selecting a team. Our delegation should have a wide variety of skills, and should have specialists and generalists. We should have delegates with people skills (persuaders, counsellors, negotiators, mediators). We should have delegates with political skills (orators, writers, people with a wide network of political connections, people with experience working on general election campaigns). We should have delegates with technical skills (blogging and websites, parliamentary procedure and party rules, delegate math, staying connected and informed with mobile devices). There are leadership skills, of course. Please consider selecting a team that has a wide range of useful skills; this will create a stronger delegation.

Also, please consider that the Obama delegation should represent the breadth of support that our candidate has generated here in our LD. Obama's message of unity has more impact when it is carried forward by a diverse group of people. Now, on to our aspiring delegates:

Send me a short statement, or a link to your webpage or blog, and I'll add you to this list

Ian Auger-Juul

This is quite possibly the most difficult thing I’ve ever had to write; certainly, it’s not the first time I’ve written personal statements and persuasive essays, but this is different. It’s one thing to write something to convince someone of a position, it’s quite another to try and convince someone why I would be a better choice for a position than they would be. This is something I’ve never done before, but then again, that’s the story of this primary season for me.

I’m 23 years old, which means I was old enough to vote during the last presidential election. In that election, I didn’t care who the nominee was, and the nominees that were chosen I didn’t care for – so I voted third-party that year. Perhaps it was a mistake, but then again, I didn’t care about politics or who was President. If you’d asked me about the election at the beginning of this year, I would have responded in much the same manner – I knew about Clinton and McCain, and to me, Barack Obama was ‘that black candidate for President with the odd-sounding book’. I didn’t know more, nor did I care to.

Then, maybe a week before Super Tuesday, a friend linked me to the Blueprint for Change on Obama’s website. I wasn’t much interested in it, but I clicked and read, just to humor him. And I couldn’t stop reading. What was said made sense, and did so in a way I’d never seen before in politics. My friend then linked me to a couple of Obama’s speeches up on the internet. Half an hour later, I was wiping tears away from my eyes.

For the first time in my life, I cared about politics. I cared about who was President. What he said in those speeches, the South Carolina victory speech and the New Hampshire concession speech, was something I’d never heard in politics, not in my (admittedly brief) adult lifetime. He didn’t say “I”, he said “we”. He didn’t say “you must”, he said “you can”. He didn’t try to impel, he tried to inspire. And he succeeded. For the first time in my life, I was inspired to stand up and do something.

Not long after, it was announced that he was coming to speak in Seattle, and though some trick of chance or fate, I had that day off, so me and the friend that had turned me on to this entire movement cleared the day and decided to make the early morning pilgrimage across the lake to go see Barack Obama speak. The night before, I couldn’t sleep, I just tossed and turned all the night long. And I came up with an idea. At half past seven, I drove down to the store, and bought boxes of donuts, donut holes, cookies, juice, cups, and napkins, not because I had to do it, but because I felt compelled. If people were going to sit in line for hours in the February weather – and this was the cold February weather, not the warm spot that we were lucky to have – to stand up for hope, well, I felt compelled to make sure as few of them did it hungry as I could.

And it was what happened there that inspired me most in this campaign. Not the speech, though. It was a good one, or what I could hear of it was. We were up in the cheap seats, behind the stage, and the sound equipment wasn’t quite up for the task, unfortunately. No, it was what happened before the speech. We got to our place in line, set the food and drink down, and started breaking it out while calling for anyone who wanted some to come and get it. Incredulous stares and questions of ‘free? Are you serious?’ faded to gratitude as some people came up and started getting donuts and Sunny-D. Then the security folks came up and started moving the line along, compressing it up to get as much people in as possible, and my friend and I scrambled to get the food and drink off the ground to move it along. But here’s the thing: we didn’t do it alone. Unasked, some of the people in the line around us picked up boxes and bottles and cups and started moving up the line. And then, they started echoing our calls, that we had food and drink, and anyone who wanted some could have it. We started moving up and down the line, dispensing refreshments, and I didn’t see any of the other people who’d spontaneously decided to pitch in – didn’t see them until they came back and asked for more stuff to pass out, that is.

Ten minutes later, and it was all gone – along, of course, with our place in line. So we ducked under the ropes, cut in (with permission, of course), and settled in to wait, talking with the people around us. Ahead of us was a trucker from Moses Lake, who’d driven the four hours the night before to come see Obama speak. To our side was a gentleman who’d spent time in the Merchant Marine before settling down in Seattle and a group of teenagers who’d skipped high school to come to the rally, and behind us were a middle-aged lady and her college-aged daughter.

We waited, but the time passed well, and before we knew it, we were filing into the arena. We took our seats, and we started talking with the lady sitting next to us. She was French-Canadian by the sounds of it and she’d been living in Washington and working for Boeing for 25 years. She said that if Obama didn’t get the nomination, she was claiming her citizenship and going home. For two hours we talked about the election, politics, and our hopes for the future. We laughed at the same jokes, we commiserated over how long it was taking, and we waited with anticipation as each speaker took the stage.

Then, the magic happened, and the man we’d all been waiting for came out on stage. An hour later, if I had any doubts, they were gone like dust in the wind, and I saw what I had to do – what I wanted to do – clearly. The next day was the local caucus, and when the precinct chair called for volunteers to be delegates to the Legislative District caucus, my hand shot up without hesitation, because for the first time in my life, I wanted to make a difference. I wanted to make a change, both in this nation and in myself.

I would like, if you would allow me to do so, to carry this onwards. I want to go to the national convention in Denver. I don’t know if I’ll make it there. I don’t know if I can make it there. But I have to try, and I can’t try without your help.

If you would assist me in walking onwards along the path to the Congressional District Caucus, the state convention, and perhaps, if I’m lucky enough, the Democratic National Convention itself, I would be honored beyond my ability to convey in these mere words.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. If you vote for me as a delegate on April 5th, thank you for that as well. And even if you don’t, thank you anyways, for you are raising your voice and calling for change, just as I am, and that, above all else, deserves all the gratitude I can deliver.

Christopher Kirk

I am an engineer in my 20s, always interested in politics but before this election, never involved. I believe I represent a growing activism among young voters who have traditionally shown little care for national politics. If we hope to change America for the better, we have to be willing to lend a hand. For my part, I am currently the delegate captain of my precinct. With your help, I will represent the voters of Washington all the way to the Democratic National Convention if I am needed. After that, who knows? I may even run for office some day.

Thank you for your support!

Christopher Kirk

Richard Kobylka

My name is Richard Kobylka and I’m running for a delegate slot to the congressional district caucus.

I am a life long Democrat who worked in the Wisconsin state legislature for eight years as an aide to a governor, two state representatives, and a state senator. My political work also includes volunteering for many state and national campaigns in the capacity of volunteer organizer, phone caller, literature distributor, and door bell ringer. I was the PCO for my precinct (Woodlands) in 2004. I have made many phone calls for Senator Obama and also volunteered to staff the registration table for the 45th Legislative District caucus on April 5th.

Senator Obama first came to my attention during his speech to the 2004 Democratic convention. I support his candidacy because I believe he provides the best opportunity to significantly reduce the poisonous atmosphere that plagues our national politics. The conduct of his campaign has been exceptional and it does not have the rancor and hostility we often see during the primaries. He brings a vision of hope and optimism that is sorely missing from the national debate and I believe he possesses the skill needed to translate his vision into reality as President.

For more than thirty years, I supported presidential primary candidates who do not fare well in their campaigns. My list of unelected presidential primary candidates goes back to 1976 when I supported Mo Udall, though I was too young to vote in the primary. I supported Gary Hart (pre-Donna Rice) in 1984, Al Gore in 1988, Paul Tsongas in 1992, and Wes Clark in 2004. It feels terrific to finally support someone who not only is positioned to win the Democratic nomination, but also the presidency. Given the country’s current plight, Barack Obama has the opportunity to be a transformational leader and a great President.

As a delegate for Senator Obama I will bring passion and energy in representing you at the CD caucus and I respectfully ask for your vote.

If you have any questions please feel free to call me at 425-766-9254 or email me at j_stupor@yahoo.com.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

David Lloyd

My name is David Lloyd and I'm a member of the community of Kirkland. I'm also a proud supporter of Senator Barack Obama and am grateful for the opportunity I've had thus far to participate in helping our guy on his path to the White House.

My personal story is a largely unconventional one. My youth, as the son of a Marine and a grade school teacher, was spent traveling from one coast to the other in our individual pursuit of the American Dream. Our travels took us through many of this Country's great regions, exposing me to a number of its unique and fascinating cultures. My experiences have varied from that of the slower paced, tight knit life of rural America to having to learn quickly to handle myself in a not so privileged neighborhood of Washington D.C.

My adult life brought me to live for a time in another country. As an expatriate, I learned much about the culture I found myself living and working in. Ultimately I came to understand far more about myself and the culture I am from. This experience has since informed my life, attitude and perspective, increasing my appreciation of what we share in the United States.

I have in my life been and tried many things. I am a father and a husband. I've been wealthy and I've been poor. I dropped out of high school but was also able to later graduate and ultimately thrive in academia. I am an artist. I am a trained chef, graphic designer and painter.

Today I am a supporter of our next president.

Given the opportunity to represent my community as delegate, I will use what I have learned from these experiences to not only shine a positive light on our community, but to bring others to the side of hope. I know that while there are many perspectives in the world, the best way to change minds and hearts is with dignity and respect.

Thank you for considering me as a representative of the 45th. If you've any questions regarding my specific beliefs, positions or qualifications, please do not hesitate to contact me.

David Lloyd
david@gollydesign.com

Don Macaluso

My home state of Wisconsin and my adopted home here share many traits and a long history. It’s probably why I felt so at home when I moved here. I was raised in Wisconsin and politically speaking, that means that government is not always wasteful, bloated, inefficient and ineffective anymore than private enterprise is cutthroat, greedy, dishonest and ethically bankrupt. It means that responsibility, accountability and liability apply to both public and private institutions.

When I was a young man, the older generation, “The Establishment” fought hard to hold on to position and power. The wave of my generation dared to say no and to insist that they examine their motives and their values. Our efforts resulted in a lot of progress for civil rights, women’s rights and environmental responsibility.

I learned a lot from my elders – honesty, responsibility, accountability, pride in work, honor. These things are valuable beyond measure. But I also learned the importance of self deception, ignorance, stubbornness, guilt and fear. Today I am “The Establishment.” One more thing I hope I’ve learned is the wisdom to pass the care and nurturing of this 232 year-old experiment on to the next generation without rancor, without a fight, in fact with enthusiasm to help reestablish fairness and justice and go on.

The Founders understood the dangers in a static government and in the baseness that is part of the human spirit. The Founders’ genius was is making our government flexible and having faith that within that same human spirit is the desire to strive for a better, more noble and just way of life.

Julie Manley

My name is Julie Manley. I am married to Tom, an electrical engineer, who works out of our home here in Kirkland. Tom and I have 3 grown children who all live nearby. One of our children honorably served this country in the Army and was deployed for one year in Iraq at the beginning of the war. I currently work in a local pharmacy call center and hear daily the pain of many who are choosing between their medicines and other basic needs. We, like so many others, have also felt pain, frustration, anger and helplessness, during these last seven years. The time for feeling helpless is over.

The time for a renewed hope is NOW, and I believe, I must believe, that together we can do something. I believe the best way to do something is to see Barack Obama elected as the next President of the United States, so he can lead US all to action. My response to his call is being compelled offer myself as a delegate representing us at the Congressional District Caucus and beyond.

Senator Obama speaks frequently about change not happening from the top down but from the bottom up. When thinking of these issues in the past I have always thought, “Who am I? How can I make a difference?” The answer is: “I am an ordinary citizen who cares”.

I care about our soldiers who are being asked to go back 2 & 3 & 4 times into a country that never attacked us.

I care that we are spending billions of dollars on this war. There are over 4000 American soldiers dead and that number continues to grow. That number does not count civilian American and Iraqi.

There are also the costs of war that can never be measured; injuries, PTSD, vets who struggle to get their promised benefits, the breakup of families due to stress… just to scratch the surface.

I care that if even a portion of the billions of dollars spent on this war had been spent here we could have used that on our infrastructure and building up our community.

I care about children who are being “left behind”.

I care about the Constitution.

I care about election reform, and not allowing lobbyists to rule the activity of congress.

I care passionately about leaving the planet a better place than it is now.

I believe in Senator Obama. I believe in his ability to use diplomacy as a strategy to help us regain our position in the world. I believe in his vision of us as a nation working together for the common good.

It is difficult to state the range of emotion and empowerment I have felt during every speech I have heard from Senator Obama. I can no longer look at myself as, “Who am I to try and do something”? The question is: “Who am I not to get involved”. I am passionate and I long for the country I believe we can rebuild. I believe this is what I hear Senator Obama saying and I would be proud, excited and privileged to support, endorse and work for the election of Barack Obama as a delegate to the next level.

Thank you.

Gregg McDonald

My name is Gregg McDonald and I will be running for a delegate position at the 45th LD Caucus on April 5th.

I was born and raised on the Eastside of Seattle, and returned to the area after college to live and raise my own family. I currently teach high school history and American Government/Civics at Redmond High School, and believe the experience of being a delegate in this historic and extraordinary election year would be an invaluable learning opportunity for both myself and current and future students. As a history teacher, I know that the opportunity to support an incredible candidate like Senator Obama only comes around very rarely, and I want to do my part to make sure that this historic opportunity doesn't pass us by. Thank you!

Jessica Norouzi

Greetings!

My name is Jessica Norouzi and I am running as a delegate for Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign and would like to introduce myself.

I am a 24 year old native to Seattle, WA. In June of 2006 I graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in Sociology and Human Rights. Currently I serve as the Program Manager for two non-profit organizations, The Greater University Chamber of Commerce and the Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce, doing community development work. I also recently started volunteering at Morningsong, which is a child-care/learning center for homeless families. Over the past few years I have volunteered at several different schools and organizations working with at-risk and underrepresented youth. These volunteer opportunities have been life changing experiences for me and have been part of what has driven me towards running as a delegate for Barack Obama.

Growing up as a Middle Eastern-American I did not always fit in with my predominately white community. Although this was challenging for me it was also beneficial because it help open up my eyes. Feeling somewhat of an outsider in my community led me to constantly examine the social issues our society faces as a whole. When I went to college I became even more passionate about these issues and realized how important it was for me to get more involved in social justice. Through my classes I focused on social issues, specifically dealing with race & inequality as well as the study of international human rights and political science. Through my volunteer work and internships I was able to witness the disparities that exist in our society firsthand and examine how it affects our communities.

It was during this time in my life when I truly began to realize the urgent need our country had for an inspirational leader who could pull us out of the same routine we have been circling around in for decades. A leader who expressed what he believed, who pulled people together from all groups, who challenged people, motivated people, and unified people.

This is why I am so passionate about Barack Obama and why I feel I would be a strong delegate to represent him. Through the people, Barack Obama has the ability to bring about the change we have desperately been waiting for in this country. His career and campaign have been focused on starting from the grassroots and that is exactly what I bring to the table. I am an everyday young American who is just looking for a new beginning and who is enthusiastic about representing this common desire for all Americans. I am also extremely dedicated and passionate about what Barack Obama stands for and have the strong ability to lead, connect and unify people just as Obama has done with his campaign.

Thank you for taking the time to read a little about me. Together we can make history…

Linda Olson

My name is LINDA OLSON, and I am actively campaigning to be an Obama delegate from the state of Washington ~ not just for the LD, CD or state caucuses/conventions but all the way to the national convention. In all my 60 years, I have never been so enthusiastic about a candidate as I am about Obama. In fact, in the past my vote has been more against someone than actually for my candidate...until Barack Obama came along. In this case, not only am I behind him 1000%, I have been taking an active role in his campaign.

When I heard Obama deliver the keynote address in 2004, I was so blown away that I had tears in my eyes, and as soon as he finished his speech, I wrote him a letter and asked him to please run for president. At last there was a candidate that I believed in to my very core and who represented all the qualities I believe a U.S. president should posses. I have never felt so passionate about a candidate in my entire life, and I believe he is THE ONLY CANDIDATE who can bring our country together again and actually accomplish great things. He is also the only candidate I believe can repair our image around the world, and he is already beloved by people in far away lands.

Barack Obama is not only an eloquent speaker but is also an elegant man who is well educated, thoughtful, reasonable and wise. He seems to have a sixth sense about what our country needs and how to rally people behind him to get things done. He truly is an agent of change, and our country definitely needs to go in an entirely new direction. Contrary to what the Clinton campaign espouses, I believe the most critical qualifications a president can have is NOT time in service (what they call "experience") but common sense and good judgment. Senator Obama understands that it is the combination of extensive knowledge/understanding about an issue and good policy that turns ideas into action, and heaven knows we have a lot of major issues in this country that need to be resolved. He can generate the bipartisan support that is required to actually make these changes occur.

Why would I make a good delegate for Obama? One, I am such an strong believer in who he is and what he stands for that I cannot be bought and I cannot be swayed from my position. I will stand solidly behind Barack Obama with the utmost pride and strength ~ all the way to the White House. Two, I have done extensive research about his background and record, and I can go head to head with anyone who wishes to challenge his positions, character, experience or qualifications to be president of the United States. Three, I have the maturity and life experience to know how critical this election is and how much is riding on who we ultimately elect as president. We all know that there will be some "heavy hitters" in the Clinton camp who will be trying very hard to convince Obama delegates to switch sides, and that is why it is so important that we elect delegates who cannot be swayed. Four, I am so enthusiastic about Senator Obama's candidacy that I have no doubt I can spread that energy among the rest of my fellow delegates and help them stand firm as well. With the right representatives, who knows? Perhaps Clinton delegates will be swept up by our enthusiasm, take a second look and decide that they want to be on the winning team. Now wouldn't that be awesome?

Remember my name: LINDA OLSON! I will do the Obama camp proud and will fight relentlessly for his presidency.

Glenda Roberts

My name is Glenda Roberts. I am a fighter and I will fight to ensure that your will is heard! I want to represent the 45th Legislative District at the Democratic National Convention in Denver. I am an enthusiastic supporter of Barack Obama to become the 2008 Democratic candidate for the Presidency of the United States of America. My story makes me passionate about this change that we can believe in for the betterment of us all. My background equips me with tools to help us succeed.

Here are 5 skills that I have to help Obama to be "the one":

Extensive Public Speaking Experience: I am always willing to stand up and make the case to audiences large and small. I’ve been the keynote speaker at several events, including the Governor’s "Texas Women’s Conference", Women’s Breakfast sponsored by the Technology Access Foundation in 2003; the University of Washington Women In Science & Engineering and Digigirlz High Tech Camps for girls.

Parliamentary Experience: As Vice President of the Board of Directors of Passages Northwest, it is my responsibility to ensure that decisions are made in an orderly and purposeful manner, particularly in situations of uncertainty.

Proven Business Acumen, Technology and Analytical Skills gained while evolving from a software developer to a senior executive for some of the world's leading corporations, including Microsoft, General Electric and Johnson " Johnson.

Influence Building Experience: As an executive-level leader in multiple acquisition, investment and alliance transactions for Microsoft, I have considerable experience cultivating trusting relationships and developing workable solutions among different constituencies. I do this by listening carefully and think analytically while keeping the main goal in focus.

Passion for Leadership to help us do and become more than they ever thought possible!

Abbott Smith

My name is Abbott Smith.

This is the first time in my adult life that I have been inspired to take an active role in supporting a political candidate. I have never donated to a candidate and I have never worked on a campaign prior to this. Yet, I find myself increasingly drawn to do everything that I can to help see that Senator Obama is our next President. I have gone from never having been involved to helping to organize the Horace Mann precincts for both the Precinct and Legislative District caucuses. I designed a logo for the 45th LD Obama supporters and helped see that logo translated into buttons. I founded the Washington Veterans for Obama. I've pitched in to help in training sessions and I have been honored to be chosen as the speaker at the 45th LD caucus for the Obama campaign. It has been an amazing journey. It is a journey that I would like to continue as a delegate to the 1st Congressional District caucus, the State Convention and if possible, the National Convention.

I am drawn to Senator Obama for two primary reasons. I believe that he has an outstanding demeanor. When I look at his decision to actively oppose the Iraq War, I'm not just proud of the decision, I am attracted to the calm and thoughtful process that led to it. Here is a man who understands how to remain calm in a crisis. Here is a man who won't pander to our fears. Instead he challenges us to live up to our ideals when they matter most. As a veteran, this is exactly the quality of judgement I seek from my leaders.

Secondly, I am drawn to the principles that unite his policies, positions and thought processes. Here is a man who looks at the big picture of what he wants to accomplish and marries the strengths of our national ideals to the technologies and social systems of our modern era. You can see our Constitution woven throughout how he seeks to lead and inspire us. These convictions fuel his skills as a speaker and inform his policies. And they attract Americans to pitch in to help transform our country. This is the leadership we need. These traits are unique to Senator Obama and I am not interested in any of the other candidates for President.

I bring soft skills to the campaign. I have good writing and speaking skills. I am also a professional illustrator and graphic designer. I have spent my life organizing and leading groups. My professional life has been as a soldier, a medical professional and as an art teacher. I have lived and travelled all over the US and I lived briefly in Italy during my studies. I would be honored to continue to represent my community in helping to see that Barack Obama is our next president.

Thank you for your consideration.

Abbott Smith
Redmond, WA
RED 45-3281

Frank White

My name is Frank White. I’ve been a resident of the state of Washington since 1978. I am a life long registered Democrat and a veteran of the United States Navy. I have worked in an IT capacity for various organizations in western Washington, including the Bellevue Journal American, Perkins Coie and Microsoft . Working in different industries has given me the opportunity to work with a diverse group of people from many ethnicities, levels of education and social economic backgrounds. I can honestly say I have truly enjoyed that aspect of my career.

After watching Barrack Obama’s speech at the 2004 Democratic convention, I thought that this young man could be a rising star and one of the future leaders of our party. After hearing conservative columnist Robert Novak’s critique the next day (about Obama not being “the second coming“), I knew we had a winner. Someone, who while not necessarily liked by all members of the Republican Party, had already begun to earn their respect.

I would like to be considered as a 45th district delegate for Barrack Obama. I feel I could bring to the table the perspectives of all those with whom I’ve met and worked over my last 30 years in Washington State. I am a tireless worker who is passionate about contributing to the success of our party and the election of Senator Obama as the next president of the United States.

Andrea Wood

Please consider me for a 1st Congressional District Delegate for Barack Obama. I have been politically active since 8 years of age, when I diligently created "Nix on Nixon" posters for our garage door in Minnesota, where I grew up. My heart, intellect and very soul has been Democratic as long as I can recall. At the age of 16, I was ringing door bells for the League of Women Voters when we learned of Bobby's assassination. Despite that tragedy and the lies of the Bush elections and regime, I remain optimistic about America's future.

My professional life as a Registered Nurse has centered around management positions. As a Nurse and Nursing Director, Manager and Supervisor I have provided care, leadership and structure based upon science and love. That professional experience has taught me how to connect genuinely with others.

My mission as an Obama delegate is to work tirelessly to support Barack Obama and advocate for him at every level possible. I promise to remain optimistic, inclusive and hopeful for tomorrow. I want to be able to say "I'm proud to be an American" again. Being part of Barack's success story will make that possible.

Thank you ˜ Andrea Wood

Jeremy York

I am a scientist, software developer and entrepreneur who has lived in the Seattle area for 15 out of the last 20 years. I have years of experience in managing software teams and business projects, and I've been putting those organizational skills to work for Senator Obama's campaign for most of 2008. In about a week, I went from volunteering to make a few phone calls, to standing in as the coordinator for the 45th LD before the precinct caucuses while Rita (our original LD coordinator) was working in Colorado. Since then, I've been recruiting volunteers to contact delegates so that we have good attendance at the LD caucus, putting up this website, coordinating with the 45th LD Democrats, and helping to coordinate the many volunteer efforts going on here in the 45th.

For the convention, I've got a couple of talents that can help. As a statistician, I've got a good handle on the polls and the delegate math. I am also good at deciphering and remembering complicated rules (like the WA Delegate Allocation Plan, or the rules of the convention) and coming up with effective strategies that work within those rules.

Here's a little bit of information on my background. I used to be quite politically active while I was in college and graduate school, particularly on peace issues. I've been voting Democratic from my first presidential election back in 1984. However, the political climate of the 90s and the first part of this decade led me deeper and deeper into cynicism and the political apathy that so often accompanies it.

My wife and I were energized by Senator Obama's speech at the 2004 convention; but afterwards, the habitual cynacism kicked in for me. I had given up on the possibility of a Democratic presidential candidate who not only had charisma and electability, but also had policies based on a core progressive vision. I was hopeful that Obama was such a person, but 20 years of disappointment in our candidates had led me to be pessimistic about his chances. Not wanting to be let down again, I didn't really get involved early on.

Iowa changed everything for me; I very quickly realized that this was a historic, perhaps a once-in-a-lifetime candidacy. He could make it - if, and only if, enough of us got behind him. Since then, I've been putting my time, energy and skills into this campaign to the greatest degree possible. And I plan on continuing until we put Obama in the White House, and beyond. After the dust settles from the 45th LD caucus, I'll be heading to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for a week to work on the campaign full time.

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