BlogHer - politics - Comments

There's always a way

Jill Miller Zimon — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 08:21:23 -0600

Thanks so much, Kim. I know I thought campaigning was hard work and that my professional career has been dedicated to actual problem-solving professions (like ombuds and risk management). But before, during and since the campaign, the already "in" and established folks here, who aren't awful people or anything at all like that, continued to make choices that completely defied not only transparency, but what I consider to be the entire constituency's best interests.

However...

Yesterday, at my synagogue, they gave me "an honor." I was asked to say the prayer before someone read from the Torah for Shabbat. This is called an aliyah. Then, after I did the two prayers (one before and one after the reading), the senior rabbi stepped forward and blessed me and another member who was re-elected to a different community's city council - an all white male city council right next to my town! don't get me started ;). And he said very nice things about us etc.

A little later, I stepped out to go to the ladies room and while there, saw a good friend with whom I'd gone through a two-year leadership institute from 2006-2006. We were members of the first class. And while we were chatting and I was sharing with her a few war stories, she just started to laugh this hearty laugh, and she said, "They are messing with the WRONG BROAD!" And she said that she'd been thinking that all along and was so thrilled for me to have won.

I've already counselled myself that I'm going to be taking deep breaths very very often while I acclimate to them and they acclimate to me. But if, at the age of 47, I don't stick with and stand by these goals - transparency, zeal etc. - as the underlying reasons for pursuing what I pursue, then what was the point of everything I've done before now?

I have plenty to learn. I am 100% positive I will change my mind about things as I watch and learn from the other council members and listen to residents. And I'll get frustrated too. But the results for the community will always be more important than how any one decision impacts me. I have to remember that. I hope I can.

Jill Writes Like She Talks

I am so happy that you've shared your story, Jill

Kim Pearson — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 04:53:55 -0600

Hey Jill,

You know I'm proud of you. (Or at least I hope you know.) It's a brave and noble thing you're doing - putting yourself out there, trying to be part of the solution instead of just pointing out the problems with government. I hope you govern with the same transparency and zeal with which you've executed your campaign, and I hope your story inspires others to get just as involved in their communities.

Kim
BlogHer Contributing Editor|KimPearson.net|

Would love to hear/read more about the Mayor!

Jill Miller Zimon — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:39:20 -0600

Thank you so much for taking the time to read and leave a comment on this post. I would love to read more about your friend who you helped and who became a mayor - that is fantastic. It's actually been hard to come up with words to adequately describe how it feels to have done what it takes. In the moment, it was much easier somehow!

Glad to know there are women interested in this kind of support and effort and goal. I think it's critical to a representative gov't but also, just to feeling like we matter. That's something I think most of us struggle with at one time or another.

Best to you too -

Jill Writes Like She Talks

Big smile

Jill Miller Zimon — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:36:15 -0600

Thanks, Mata - that is an awesome photo! It's been a haul - I sometimes can't believe what I pushed myself to do! Great people, inspiration, all around tho. Thank you. :)

Jill Writes Like She Talks

Congratulations!

DebOwen — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:29:49 -0600

This is the first post I've seen of yours, and I love it!

A friend of mine decided to run for mayor a couple of years ago, and so I (and a bunch of other people) said, "OK then! Let's do this thing!" It was an amazing experience. There were a lot of great 'lessons learned.'

And we experienced the "is it over yet?" feeling about two-three weeks before the election, followed by one last big push and then the -- "Um. Now what do we do?" feeling. (ha) Of course, she had to go be mayor so it was different for her.

Anyway, great job getting out the vote and for the 'your vote counts' message.

Congratulations!

I look forward to reading more from you in the future!

All the best!

deb

you rock !!!!

Mata H — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:25:08 -0600

This is great news!

~~ Contributing Editor, Mata H. also blogs right along at Time's Fool

Being a luddite is relative I guess!

Jill Miller Zimon — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:02:19 -0600

Thanks so much, Virginia. I really want to try as many different things as I could in terms of reaching out, but making sure that I didn't over-rely on methods that simply would never penetrate more than a certain percentage of voters in my town was really important. I do hope to write at length about how I went about what I did - and what worked, what didn't.

Thanks for being an inspiration and for the support. :)

Jill Writes Like She Talks

Governs like she blogs

Jill Miller Zimon — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:00:37 -0600

That's one suggestion someone has made for a blog name! We'll see. I need to learn the rules about what is and isn't public and so on. I'm sure I'm going to have a more expansive idea of what to share than some others in the city but that's never deterred me before from testing driving a little something. ;)

Thanks for the support Maria - you've been there from the start. Thank you.

Jill Writes Like She Talks

Political Voices of Women - let's set a goal??

Jill Miller Zimon — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:58:55 -0600

Maybe we need to start setting goals, like "drives" or something to get us motivated and see how many people we can recruit and attract to taking the plunge into different levels of leading a political life. Because it really can lead to running and winning in office. We have got to keep trying.

Thanks for all the support, Catherine. Really hope to see you and many other BlogHers next summer in NYC - thinking about it already!!

Jill Writes Like She Talks

Congratulations

Virginia DeBolt — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:13:32 -0600

So happy your hard work paid off. Way to go!

Virginia DeBolt
BlogHer Technology CE | Web Teacher | First 50 Words

Yay!

Maria Niles — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:56:06 -0600

Congratulations on your hard work and smart campaigning leading to a win! I'm thrilled.

Thank you for bringing us along on your journey to office. Now what? Blogging your term, of course :-)

BlogHer Contributing Editor PopConsumer Beyond Help

I'm so happy that all of your hard work paid off.

Catherine Morgan — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:30:59 -0600

Way to go Jill. Thanks for sharing this experience with BlogHer. You really worked hard, and I'm so happy that it paid off for you.

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
at Catherine-Morgan.com and Women4Hope

Excellent

Virginia DeBolt — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 08:21:15 -0500

I went through to Women's Voices for Change and read your most excellent article, then tweeted and stumbled it.

Virginia DeBolt
BlogHer Technology CE | Web Teacher | First 50 Words

Sounds like you know each other

Jill Miller Zimon — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 09:47:32 -0500

And are in sync. Enviable indeed, and to have that from the get-go? Even more so. Many happy years ahead for you both, I hope. :)

Jill Writes Like She Talks

It's my personal belief that

LMAshton — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 09:38:25 -0500

It's my personal belief that my job as a wife is to take care of him. He similarly takes care of me, although he's never verbalized that as a personal belief - he just does it. As far as I'm concerned, if we're both focused on taking care of each other, then we both have our needs met. As well, neither of us keeps score. Well, except when it comes to chocolate consumption... ;) Neither of us brings up past stuff, what little of it there is - that, to me, is too divisive and serves no useful purpose, but it also helps that I have a lousy memory. :D

Yes, I try to support him. I try to take care of him. It's my job, and it's one I love doing. :) But then, it also helps that I've got a terrific husband. :)

Laurie in Sri Lanka

Chilli & Chocolate | A Canadian in King Parakramabahu's Court | LMAshton on Twitter