Canvassing 101

One of the most powerful tools in a grassroots campaign, such as a school board race, is canvassing.  It is exceptionally effective.  I’ve knocked on countless doors where the person has told me how nice it was to talk with me, I’ve been the only person to knock on their door, and other positive comments.  Canvassing is personal, it’s cheap, and is the most dramatic way to influence voters. Read the rest of this entry »

We Think We Have It Hard

Each day as I travel all over the valley and state for work, I watch the odometer climb and climb. Then at the gas pump when I fill up my vehicle, like many other Arizonans, I watch the dollar figures climb and climb. We’ve all personally experienced the pain at the gas pump, the grocery store, and several other places, as we try to adjust to these difficult economic times. The strain on our household budgets is both real and significant.

Not surprisingly, as an educator, I began reflecting on how challenging these current realities must be for our school districts. Imagine the impact of these high gas prices if you had not just one vehicle to gas up, but an entire flight of buses; the impact of high food costs if you had not just one mouth to feed, but thousands; or the impact of high utility costs if you had not just one home to cool, but several buildings. I know how hard we have it. Imagine how hard it is for our school districts. Read the rest of this entry »