George,

I think we [candidates] all lost people along the way, and over a four hour period we would lose them no matter what time [for the convention] we chose. A Thursday night might be somewhat better, or a weekend afternoon after we've eaten lunch. Some of my supporters couldn't stay beyond the first ballot because of commitments with their children, but I told them that any time they could put in was welcome. I got a lot of half-household votes --the husband or the wife could come, but not both of them. Someone had to stay home with the children. Four hours is a long time for a toddler, even when there is child care. And like Joan I had a few people who couldn't come for me because of synagogue.

Ballots could have been counted faster, but the time was also an opportunity to get to know other Democrats, a process I don't see in the same light that Gabe does. Watching how people win or lose is revealing. There's a lot to be learned. There are opportunities to connect with people in a variety of ways. I will never forget some of the conversations that took place inbetween the ballots with people I had worked with on other elections, people saying they were there for me. And after the convention one candidate called me to congratulate me. That call was much appreciated.

Some of the other comments in Gabe's interview --fire the city manager, the people who head the programs aren't worth hiring, Maurice is the one councilor with ideas -- translate into some people being validated and others being told they are worthless. This isn't a good premise for the kind of city I want to live in. Gabe is right, though, that we shouldn't lose the gifts of Joan or Waldo -- or of Bern and David -- and that there's plenty of work to be done.

Alexandria Searls (electronic mail, March 7, 2002)