As a campaign volunteer for Garnet Lewis, Democrat for the 98th District Michigan State House Seat, I find that going door to door with the candidate’s information is an exciting and challenging activity. Today, I found myself in Carrollton, where working class folks are raising their families, working in their yards, connecting with their neighbors. Dogs were even friendly today. While those who came to their doors were gracious and friendly, there is one family that stays in mind: a 35 year old man, his wife, and their two children. As we stood in the driveway, he told me about his hopes and worries for the future: he works for the government at the local V.A. hospital. He himself has good health insurance, but he is concerned for those who don’t. He wanted to know Garnet’s stance on education and I was pleased to tell him that she stands for world class education for his two children, and she will work in Lansing for quality of life issues so that his children can achieve their dreams.
Meeting the people while going door to door is a great part of the campaign—answering their questions, getting them engaged with the political process, letting citizens know that they do have a voice. All these things are basic to the Garnet Lewis Campaign—the “can do” attitude, the activism at the community level—all these stem from Garnet’s personal touch. She is wearing out her shoes by walking daily, talking to the folks she knows will be her constituency. Her heart and her intelligence are in her campaign. While Garnet Lewis’s educational background, her professional expertise, and her service orientation uniquely suit her for political office, the central message of the campaign addresses education, economy, and healthcare—the very same concerns of the neighbor mentioned above. As you prepare to go to the polls in November, remember: the person who knocked on your door this fall, the one who worked tirelessly contacting her voters, the one who walked in the parades—that was Garnet Lewis. In the voting booth on Nov. 4, be sure to remember her name—the real deal, the jewel of the 98th district—Garnet Lewis.