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Edited on Thu Mar-24-11 07:13 PM by WCGreen
Northeast Ohio for a good part of my life.
It was a wonderful time in my life as I was afforded many chances to run for office, given a platform by the Cleveland Plain Dealer to express my opinions, was given a column about politics in one of the Alternative Publications here in Cleveland, was a guest on local talk shows several times and got to meet and mingle with everyone from Vice President Gore to the usual characters that populate any political organization.
But the best part of all of this was getting to know all the diverse people in Cleveland.
Some say that Cleveland is where the east coast ends and the midwest begins.
It's a very culturally rich and ethnically diverse metropolitan area that offers many of the amenities of New York and Chicago. Granted, on a very small scale, but all in all, the ethnic diversity in Cleveland is what gives the area it's unique perspective.
As the treasurer for the County Party, I took advantage of that position to go out and get to know the town. I remember going to all sorts of events where I was distinctly in the minority.
Not only in the African American community, which was a lot of fun, but in mid eastern communities, eastern organizations as well as Gay and Lesbian get togethers, Union functions, Environmental groups and all of those street fairs. There are at least 75 active ethnic organizations here in Cuyahoga County and I went to them all.
It was the best part of my job.
I remember this one particular time when the chairman of the party was not getting along with the Mayor of Cleveland. Now Mike White came from one of the most crime ridden wards. He was a tough man who wasn't afraid to do what ever it took to get the job done.
Chairman Dimora asked me to go and represent the party at the Mayors' ward club meeting.
My best friend Eric went along with me.
I stood up in front of that very hostile crowd and took all of their questions and suffered all of their scorn. After it was all over, the Ward Leader pulled me aside and told me he appreciated that I was willing to suffer through that ordeal. He told me that it was important and that his folks needed to put me through it so that they could justify supporting the democratic ticket.
I told him that I did it because I wanted to serve all the people if it came to pass that I would be lucky enough to get elected.
Alas, that did not come pass due mainly to burnout and health issues. But mainly because the venal side of politics was starting to weigh on my moral compass. In order to be successful in any type of job that requires pulling together people from diverse backgrounds, you have to be able to juggle the interests of many without stepping on the toes of others. It is a fine line to walk and it is also precarious.
One of the best parts of this particular part of my political life was getting to know the best city councilman serving in Congress. I was there when DK started his comeback and I saw how ruthless he could be and also how compassionate he was to those who truly needed his help.
I walked away with an experience that few can have. It was the best years of my life as well as the worst part. I think those two often go hand in hand which is why those opening lines resonate so well. I had such great expectations.
Now, almost ten years later, I see many of the people I spent a decade working with being indicted for crimes while in office. Every day it seems as if another person I know is getting perop walked or worse, pleading guilty to taking advantage of their political position.
I never saw or perhaps subconsciously didn't want to see, all the back-back-back room deals that were cut.
Maybe that's why I felt a sense of wearyness back in 2002 when I decided not to run for another four year term as the party treasurer.
It was a long, strange trip that I embarked on way back in 1978.
Because of DU it is still not over.
Edited because I didn't catch all the weird stuff....
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