Glog - Gagliardo Gasses

-------------Tom Gagliardo Writes------------


Some additional considerations:

1. Personality counts in all campaigns. While many of us deride glad-handing politicians, friendly, engaging candidates get votes -- even from people who may not totally embrace their philosophy, politics or program. Like all human beings, Seth has his strengths and weaknesses -- warm and fuzzy isn't one of his strengths. Kathy is in a lower percentile in the warm and fuzzy category, as well, but no one would think of describing anything she does as "agressive", let alone "overly aggressive" as one anonymous poster has said about Grimes.

My guess is that Seth didn't win over many people based on his persona and Porter didn't lose many because of hers. Quick, somebody do a study to determine if Takoma Park voters are humans (who consider personality) or wonks (who don't).

2. In campaigns which are low on voters' radar screens (e.g.,state legistlator, city council) voters can be swayed more by personal endorsements. Kathy had Bruce Williams in high-turnout Ward 3 and Marc Elrich in low-turnout Ward 5 openly and vigorously advocating for her. Seth didn't have any councilmembers -- maybe Semans in low-turnout Ward 4, but I don't know one way or the other -- doing the same for him.

As the incumbent mayor, former Ward 2 councilmember and past president of South of Sligo, Kathy had a formidible network to count on for votes in her home ward.

In Ward 1, I think, as Gilbert observed before the election, development was the hot button issue. I think people bought the Kathy-has-contacts line -- even though she hasn't demonstrated that she has pull in D.C. or the federal Transit Administration where the Metro development decisions have been and will continue to be made. Seth missed the "hearing" at which EYA and WMATA made presentations in Takoma Park only two weeks before the election (he had someone read an uninspiring letter for him) and his call for a city zoning or planning commission was far from what was needed. I also suspect that Heather Meizur stumped for her and that Kathy will back her for state delegate.

So Seth couldn't beat Kathy on her home turf, she had at least two incumbent councilmembers -- one from a ward that generates more votes than three others combined -- stumping for her, and he couldn't connect on the issue that may have been most important to voters in his ward.

So Kathy remains in office.

More important than who is mayor is the fact that, as Gilbert notes, there are some very large issues confronting this community. We need competent leadership (elected or not) to step up to the plate.

- Tom Gagliardo