Rays of Sunshine

I’m doubt I’m saying anything controversial to say that we’ve had a battle of two factions for several
months within our LD (and across the County). Despite this, I’ve actually seen some signs of bridge
building, offers of olive branches, etc. recently, so I wanted to highlight them. My intent here is to
highlight praiseworthy actions from those “on the other side” from me (or at least perceived to be so). I
genuinely hope that such cooperation is not cause for retribution among the more rigid in either side.

If we get enough of these actions (from both sides), we’ll perhaps end up on the same side and actually
start taking the fight to the Dems and winning seats for conservative Republicans. I am a firm believer in
Ronald Reagan’s maxim that someone who agrees with you 80% of the time is a friend and an ally, not a
20% traitor.

Just a few notable bridges built, or at least barriers torn down:

April 3 Meeting, Caucus and State Delegate Election

- Jeff Greenspan proactively withdrew a motion that would have disenfranchised LD4 PC’s if it had
been allowed and had passed. I thought that was praiseworthy.
- Sarah O’Neill willingly took on being a hand counter for literally hours and hours both at the end of
the meeting and again the following day to resolve a one-vote discrepancy between the tabulated
count and the hand count.
- Steve and Annette Economides and Brian Coneelly took big roles in many things including
observing the hand count, working with George Teegarden searching tabulator data and scans,
recommending process improvements, to returning the next day to be part of the team that
resolved the niggling one-vote discrepancy finalizing our tally.

State Convention

- Jodi Johnson and I had a good conversation at the State Convention in which we – respectfully and
reasonably – covered topics from Robert’s Rules to Christian Lamar to seemingly ignored PC
submittals.
- Steve Economides offered suggestions we will be developing about helping stream content for the
LD and provide video record of meetings.

These are just a few examples. Hopefully others are experiencing more. I do believe that through these
small interactions, people on opposite “sides” are seeing the other side is not as bad as previously
advertised and there is common ground to build on.

(Of course if I’ve slighted anyone/overlooked something, please don’t take it personally…this is just a
quick note to encourage more cooperation and less vilifying.)

Next Week: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Yes, sorry, but it will be time for some doses of difficult facts about truly broken behavior among our
ranks. As always, I will be highly fact based. And as always, I welcome if anyone wants to see “the
receipts,” ask questions, discuss, etc.