Campaign Sign Vandalism in 8C02-- Has it really come to this?

Wow. The Advoc8te has heard of rival campaigns removing campaign signs, I've even read about it happening in Ward 8 ANC races, even in ANC 8C but I never would have thought I would witness it with my own eyes in my own single member district of 8C02. I suppose I was still hopeful that there could still be such a thing as running a clean and respectful campaign.  In fact, I was looking forward to an opportunity for candidates to run on their merits rather than resorting to the same type of low-level foolishness and antics that have surrounded politics for too long.

It seems that my hopes were overly optimistic.

The Advoc8te lives in a small neighborhood in ANC 8C02, so it's not surprising that the incumbent, Commissioner Dion Jordan of 8C02 and challenger Lashaun Smith live in the same neighborhood, in fact they are very close neighbors, they live next door.  It's a small community and even though these two neighbors may be running on opposing tickets and the community may be supporting opposite campaigns you would still hope that things would remain, you know...neighborly.

At least that is what I hoped. And although I decided that this election term I would not be supporting the incumbent (for among other reasons his lack of attendance at ANC meetings)  I felt that things could (and frankly should) still remain civil.  Unfortunetly, things took an unexpected downhill turn; howeve,r I still refused to be caught up in the same type of petty infighting that has crippled our neighborhoods, our ANCs, and our Ward for far too long.

The series of events to follow really tested my faith in my fellow man.   While I was mulling over a run for ANC 8C02 friends would tell me of receiving a call from the incumbent, Dion Jordan  with a message that if I were to run for "his" seat in the upcoming election that  I would "surely lose" so there was no point in supporting my campaign.  I disregarded that talk as idle gossip and kept on doing me.  In my mind, why would someone be so worried about me running for an ANC position (as would be my right) if they were secure in their campaign? That's childish and after some serious self reflection I decided that although I will always be a cheerleader for my community now just was not the time for me to run.  I felt (and still do) that I have too much on my plate to give the position the attention it rightly deserves (wouldnt want to miss a bunch of meetings myself)  and I really would rather encourage other valuable community warriors to get involved. I have always appreciated everyone's confidence in me running for SMD 8C02 but I wanted to do what was best for the community -- not for me so I decided to back another candidate, someone who I knew would do a great job, Lashaun Smith.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and while I had already decided that I was not satisfied overall with my current representation for 8C02 I wouldn't  begrudge the incumbent or his supporters for exercising their right to support him. To do otherwise would just seem...petty. So when I announced on CHotR my endorsement for Lashaun Smith for SMD 8C02, and the next day our neighborhood was saturated with posted fliers  for the incumbent, Dion Jordan I thought "good for him" (although to be honest I did wonder why we didn't see this type of proactiveness when it came to community meeting notifications).  When I saw Commissioner Jordan  the next day going door to door collecting his signatures from our neighbors I wished him a sincere "Good Luck", imagine my surprise when he turned around, saw it was me and literally turned his back without saying a word. Wow - it's like that?

Speaking to some of my neighbors who decided not to vote the Jordan ticket this time I guess it was like that for them too - they recount experiencing the same cold shoulder.

Yet and still, I just did what I always do, focus on the positive,  and I am proud to say my neighbors did the same. No one tore down any of Commissioner Jordan's signs, there was no trading of insults that have unfortunately made headline news in other ANC 8C races, and their was no lodging of challenges by either candidate to their nominating petitions. It looked like despite the breaches in politeness this may actaully be a clean campaign.

That was until the challenger, Lashaun Smith started putting up her bold color fliers in the neighborhood on all on the same trees and bus stops that had previously held Dion Jordan fliers (but that after 8 weeks of rain had washed away). Less than 24 hours later 90% of the Lashaun Smith fliers  had been torn down and replaced with brand new Dion Jordan fliers. As much as it's not a huge leap to assume what happened to Ms. Smith's campaign fliers I really hope that I am wrong, it would just be too disappointing. So disappointing in fact that although it would be very easy for me to view the security cameras of the street (gotta love my building)  to see who removed the fliers for now, I am choosing not to view he footage. I am just going to hope that whomever was responsible for the vandalism of Ms. Smith's campaign fliers will read this and just stop -- for all of our sakes.

Have you seen me?

So as I and my neighbors prepare to go back out again to hang more "Lashaun Smith for ANC 8C02" fliers to replace the ones that were vandalised/stolen I retain a flicker of hope that these next batch of fliers won't meet the same fate as the last ones because not only is it shameful but its counter productive.

It's time to do better. It's time to expect better, and it's time to do both now.

So The Advoc8te asks her readers (many who live in her neighborhood) that if you see anyone ripping down anyone's campaign flier please send me an email to advoc8te@congressheightsontherise.com and please notify the DC Board of Elections and Ethics --- it's illegal.

Thanks!

P.S. On November 2nd please vote Lashaun Smith for ANC 8C02 and if you decide to support another candidate, that's okay!  You are still my neighbor and I plan on saying "Hi" next time I see you! :)