Preparing for 2013

Posted by Bill Scherer Aug 3, 2009

On June 2, 2009 there was a city council election here in Riverside, CA and wouldn't you know it, my name was on the ballot. Not that many folks noticed, I managed only 33% of the vote. But that's the short-sighted view of things. There are sound reasons for encouragement.

I entered the race four months before the election (a mail-in ballot) with no name recognition, no campaign team, and no money. All I had was a message of simple, principled, constitutional conservatism. My campaign fliers were simple black and white leaflets with no graphics, just my message. My website didn't even have a picture of me on it, just my message:

• I will stand before the people and tell them the truth.
• Government should be as small as possible, taxes as low as possible, and individuals are capable of more than most politicians think is possible.
• Elected officials are employees of the people.
• The Constitution was written to limit government and protect your rights.
• We are gradually forfeiting those rights.

My immediate local goals?

• Stop eminent domain abuses.
• Stop big-developer welfare.
• Encourage small businesses and entrepreneurship.

The simple principles and goals listed above garnered 33% of the vote in my ward. Let's be clear, they didn't vote for me, they voted for the principles we shared.

I'm running again in 2013. This time we'll have a dedicated team to help, four years to build a campaign fund, and the same rock-solid principles to guide us. I might even put a picture of myself on the campaign website.