A Few Days Later

Friday night is an excellent time for rest, solace and reflection.  For me this week, it is also a time to think about the campaign that was, and what may be to come.

The events leading up to Tuesday’s election were full of activity and energy.  I spent that last weekend canvassing neighborhoods across Newton Centre and West Newton, finally coming to grips with the fact that try as I might, I was not going to be able to sit and have a meaningful conversation with each voter in the City before election day.  I did have a good feeling that I heard and was heard by the people I met with however, and that gave me some happiness.

Tuesday night as the numbers came in however, I recognized that I simply did not have enough time to get my message across well enough to overcome the legacy of two incumbents – each of whom carries their own legacy of accomplishment for the community.

I still believe in the things that brought me to the race in the first place, and I am incredibly thankful for all of the people who helped me who had never been involved in a political race before (and also to those who had).  To those, I promise that we will come back and try again, this time starting from a very different place than this time.

In the meantime, I am also thankful for the opportunity to have met all of the people that I did, both through the campaign and through that effort of walking door to door across the City.  I had the privilege of getting to understand even more of this incredible City and of seeing more ways that people can make a difference if they are willing to stand up.  I’m looking forward to reaching back out to you and seeing what I can do to help – Though I’m sorry it’ll just be me and I won’t be carrying a title of Alderman with me… for now.

I’ve also enjoyed keeping this blog and I hope that you will indulge me in future months if I continue to have things to say.  I promise I’ll keep it relevant, and I hope to keep the conversation going.

In the meantime, have an excellent weekend!

Chris Steele is a husband and a father of 2 children in the Newton Public School system.  He is also an economic and community development consultant as well as an activist and volunteer.  You can contact him at steelch@yahoo.com