Give Thanks For: Election Night

It is hard to pick just one memory of a time when I was really happy to be in politics, because the whole ordeal of campaigning is one big rush. One event that does stick out to me, though, is the Sam Coats election night party...

We were beaten badly, and many of us knew it before the results started coming in. We were at Bugatti's on Northwest in Dallas, a fantastic Italian restaurant. Our volunteer coordinator Renee and I set up the placards and arranged the room while the staff laid out wines and snacks. Before I knew it the place was packed shoulder to shoulder with people, and I was practically mauled by all of the folks who hadn't quite made it in to see Sam. Dallas Councilwoman Angela Hunt made an appearance, thanking Sam for his candidacy and all of his strong support on the Trinity issue.

While the results poured in people would continue to ask me, as they had incessantly for the past two weeks, "How's it looking?" It was rough to be the one to break the news to a lot of our volunteers. But after some drinks and mingling with friends, most of the people forgot about the results. They were just happy to be a part of this group that cared for the same candidate, and who stood for the same causes they did. They were happy to have been able to leave their everyday lives and help Sam Coats, a friend, in his quest to be Dallas' Mayor.

While Sam made his gracious speech and thanked everyone for their support, I was very proud to stand next to the person I worked so hard for since the day we'd met. I thought he was right on all of the issues, I thought he was classy, witty, and consistent throughout the campaign. And I still think he would have made the best Mayor. But in the end, he bowed out of the race and his family of supporters slowly dispersed.

It was at this moment, as I drove home from Dallas for the last Coats campaign related trip, that I was proud to be in politics; proud to be on this side of the fence; and proud to fight for the change we all so desperately want, even if it takes losing sometimes.