Now for the good news:

Since we've got the concession out of the way, I want to talk about the positives that came from our campaign...

First, voter turnout was higher! There were 1759 ballots cast, about 410 more than last election. Our campaign had a lot to do with getting more voters to the polls, so thanks to those of you who made the effort. The percentages are still awfully low (2.93% in the lowest precinct, 16.3% in the highest), but 410 new votes is nothing to sneeze at.

Also, we showed that a candidate can be competitive without being beholden to corporate interests and PACs. Now, you might look at the final tally (1329-405, not in my favor) and wonder, "What does he mean when he says competitive?" Let me explain: We actively campaigned for about 60 days, while my opponent campaigned for about 2 years. My opponent spent about $21,000 dollars, much of it special-interest money, while I spent about $1600 (all donations under $100, from individuals). So, even though my opponent had 12 times more campaigning time and outspent me 13 to 1, she only out-polled me three to one. I'm proud of that!

Just imagine what we can do with fundraising and network building if we have a campaign 10 times as long!

Dear readers, the "Vote Bernie 2009" campaign begins tomorrow. Please don't stop reading this blog, and please continue to contribute to the debate. I'll be looking for other outlets to work for the improvement of our fair city between now and next election, and I plan to continue encouraging folks to get involved with the governing process; voting isn't that hard, and it's vital to the health of our local government.