Candidate Training night in Marin County!

Yes, it's that time of year, when the smell of fresh baked campaigns is in the air; at least would be candidates start gathering their ingredients, getting out their cookbooks, and putting on their aprons.

Well, we have the recipe for your campaign, right here in Marin County, at the Marin Women's Political Action Committee's Annual Campaign Training Night. We are a Non-partisan pro choice organization dedicated to advancing women in politics. This event will be on June 15.

All Candidates and those thinking of cooking up a campaign this year or next (or wanting to help those who are running) from Marin and beyond - join MWPAC at our annual training event. This event is always a hit, with experts in campaign finance, messaging, media, social and otherwise, endorsements and more explaining the process and sharing tips.

Meet fellow candidates and elected officials. Eat divine delights from Susie Deming Catering. All just $35. RSVP by June 12 to Barbara at 415-897-1224 or bmatas8139@aol.com

And to whet your appetite, here is a recipe for some Non-Partisan Chicken Wings:  

 

Left Wings

• 2 teaspoons ground chipotle chile pepper
• 2 teaspoons black pepper
• 2 teaspoons salt, divided
• 4 1/2 to 5 lb. chicken wings
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 2 garlic cloves, pressed
• 1 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 (8-oz.) can tomato sauce
• 1 (6-oz.) can tomato paste
• 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 2 teaspoons hot sauce

1. Light 1 side of grill, heating to 350° to 400° (medium-high) heat. Combine first 2 ingredients and 1 tsp. salt. Cut off chicken wing tips, and discard; cut wings in half at joint. Toss wings with oil. Sprinkle chicken with pepper mixture, and toss.
2. Arrange wings over unlit side of grill, and grill, covered with grill lid, 18 to 20 minutes on each side or until done.
3. Meanwhile, melt butter in a saucepan over medium-high heat; add onion and garlic, and sauté 5 minutes or until tender. Reduce heat to medium. Add vinegar, next 5 ingredients, and remaining 1 tsp. salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, 10 to 12 minutes or until bubbly.
4. Transfer wings to a clean bowl; add half of butter mixture, reserving remaining mixture. Toss wings gently to coat. Place wings on lit side of grill. Grill, covered with grill lid, 10 minutes or until browned, turning occasionally. Toss wings with reserved butter mixture. Serve with Blue Cheese Sauce.

- See more at: http://theaverageconsumer.com/2012/11/consumer-cafe-election-appetizers/#sthash.FcIImPjk.dpuf

Whether you are a left winger or a right winger – here are some chicken wings for your election party from Southern Living Magazine.

Left Wings

• 2 teaspoons ground chipotle chile pepper
• 2 teaspoons black pepper
• 2 teaspoons salt, divided
• 4 1/2 to 5 lb. chicken wings
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 2 garlic cloves, pressed
• 1 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 (8-oz.) can tomato sauce
• 1 (6-oz.) can tomato paste
• 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 2 teaspoons hot sauce

1. Light 1 side of grill, heating to 350° to 400° (medium-high) heat. Combine first 2 ingredients and 1 tsp. salt. Cut off chicken wing tips, and discard; cut wings in half at joint. Toss wings with oil. Sprinkle chicken with pepper mixture, and toss.
2. Arrange wings over unlit side of grill, and grill, covered with grill lid, 18 to 20 minutes on each side or until done.
3. Meanwhile, melt butter in a saucepan over medium-high heat; add onion and garlic, and sauté 5 minutes or until tender. Reduce heat to medium. Add vinegar, next 5 ingredients, and remaining 1 tsp. salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, 10 to 12 minutes or until bubbly.
4. Transfer wings to a clean bowl; add half of butter mixture, reserving remaining mixture. Toss wings gently to coat. Place wings on lit side of grill. Grill, covered with grill lid, 10 minutes or until browned, turning occasionally. Toss wings with reserved butter mixture. Serve with Blue Cheese Sauce.

Right Wings

• 2 teaspoons ground chipotle chile pepper
• 2 teaspoons black pepper
• 2 teaspoons salt, divided
• 4 1/2 to 5 lb. chicken wings
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 2 garlic cloves, pressed
• 1 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 (8-oz.) can tomato sauce
• 1 (6-oz.) can tomato paste
• 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 2 teaspoons hot sauce

1. Light 1 side of grill, heating to 350° to 400° (medium-high) heat. Combine first 2 ingredients and 1 tsp. salt. Cut off chicken wing tips, and discard; cut wings in half at joint. Toss wings with oil. Sprinkle chicken with pepper mixture, and toss.
2. Arrange wings over unlit side of grill, and grill, covered with grill lid, 18 to 20 minutes on each side or until done.
3. Meanwhile, melt butter in a saucepan over medium-high heat; add onion and garlic, and sauté 5 minutes or until tender. Reduce heat to medium. Add vinegar, next 5 ingredients, and remaining 1 tsp. salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, 10 to 12 minutes or until bubbly.
4. Transfer wings to a clean bowl; add half of butter mixture, reserving remaining mixture. Toss wings gently to coat. Place wings on lit side of grill. Grill, covered with grill lid, 10 minutes or until browned, turning occasionally. Toss wings with reserved butter mixture. Serve with Blue Cheese Sauce.

Blue Cheese Sauce

• 1 (8-oz.) container sour cream
• 1/3 cup buttermilk
• 1 (3-oz.) wedge blue cheese, crumbled
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon coarse-grained mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper

Stir together sour cream, buttermilk, blue cheese, chives, lemon zest, lemon juice, mustard, salt, and pepper.

- See more at: http://theaverageconsumer.com/2012/11/consumer-cafe-election-appetizers/#sthash.FcIImPjk.dpuf

Left Wings

• 2 teaspoons ground chipotle chile pepper
• 2 teaspoons black pepper
• 2 teaspoons salt, divided
• 4 1/2 to 5 lb. chicken wings
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 2 garlic cloves, pressed
• 1 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 (8-oz.) can tomato sauce
• 1 (6-oz.) can tomato paste
• 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 2 teaspoons hot sauce

1. Light 1 side of grill, heating to 350° to 400° (medium-high) heat. Combine first 2 ingredients and 1 tsp. salt. Cut off chicken wing tips, and discard; cut wings in half at joint. Toss wings with oil. Sprinkle chicken with pepper mixture, and toss.
2. Arrange wings over unlit side of grill, and grill, covered with grill lid, 18 to 20 minutes on each side or until done.
3. Meanwhile, melt butter in a saucepan over medium-high heat; add onion and garlic, and sauté 5 minutes or until tender. Reduce heat to medium. Add vinegar, next 5 ingredients, and remaining 1 tsp. salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, 10 to 12 minutes or until bubbly.
4. Transfer wings to a clean bowl; add half of butter mixture, reserving remaining mixture. Toss wings gently to coat. Place wings on lit side of grill. Grill, covered with grill lid, 10 minutes or until browned, turning occasionally. Toss wings with reserved butter mixture. Serve with Blue Cheese Sauce.

 

Right Wings

• 2 teaspoons ground chipotle chile pepper
• 2 teaspoons black pepper
• 2 teaspoons salt, divided
• 4 1/2 to 5 lb. chicken wings
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 2 garlic cloves, pressed
• 1 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 (8-oz.) can tomato sauce
• 1 (6-oz.) can tomato paste
•  2 tablespoons light brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 2 teaspoons hot sauce
• Cook the same as the Left Wings.
• 
  
  Blue Cheese Sauce
  • 1 (8-oz.) container sour cream
  • 1/3 cup buttermilk
  • 1 (3-oz.) wedge blue cheese, crumbled
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon coarse-grained mustard
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  Stir together sour cream, buttermilk, blue cheese, chives, lemon zest, lemon juice, mustard, salt, and pepper.
  
  
  
  

Whether you are a left winger or a right winger – here are some chicken wings for your election party that I found in my Southern Living Magazine.

Left Wings

• 2 teaspoons ground chipotle chile pepper
• 2 teaspoons black pepper
• 2 teaspoons salt, divided
• 4 1/2 to 5 lb. chicken wings
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 2 garlic cloves, pressed
• 1 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 (8-oz.) can tomato sauce
• 1 (6-oz.) can tomato paste
• 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 2 teaspoons hot sauce

1. Light 1 side of grill, heating to 350° to 400° (medium-high) heat. Combine first 2 ingredients and 1 tsp. salt. Cut off chicken wing tips, and discard; cut wings in half at joint. Toss wings with oil. Sprinkle chicken with pepper mixture, and toss.
2. Arrange wings over unlit side of grill, and grill, covered with grill lid, 18 to 20 minutes on each side or until done.
3. Meanwhile, melt butter in a saucepan over medium-high heat; add onion and garlic, and sauté 5 minutes or until tender. Reduce heat to medium. Add vinegar, next 5 ingredients, and remaining 1 tsp. salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, 10 to 12 minutes or until bubbly.
4. Transfer wings to a clean bowl; add half of butter mixture, reserving remaining mixture. Toss wings gently to coat. Place wings on lit side of grill. Grill, covered with grill lid, 10 minutes or until browned, turning occasionally. Toss wings with reserved butter mixture. Serve with Blue Cheese Sauce.

Right Wings

• 2 teaspoons ground chipotle chile pepper
• 2 teaspoons black pepper
• 2 teaspoons salt, divided
• 4 1/2 to 5 lb. chicken wings
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 2 garlic cloves, pressed
• 1 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 (8-oz.) can tomato sauce
• 1 (6-oz.) can tomato paste
• 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 2 teaspoons hot sauce

1. Light 1 side of grill, heating to 350° to 400° (medium-high) heat. Combine first 2 ingredients and 1 tsp. salt. Cut off chicken wing tips, and discard; cut wings in half at joint. Toss wings with oil. Sprinkle chicken with pepper mixture, and toss.
2. Arrange wings over unlit side of grill, and grill, covered with grill lid, 18 to 20 minutes on each side or until done.
3. Meanwhile, melt butter in a saucepan over medium-high heat; add onion and garlic, and sauté 5 minutes or until tender. Reduce heat to medium. Add vinegar, next 5 ingredients, and remaining 1 tsp. salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, 10 to 12 minutes or until bubbly.
4. Transfer wings to a clean bowl; add half of butter mixture, reserving remaining mixture. Toss wings gently to coat. Place wings on lit side of grill. Grill, covered with grill lid, 10 minutes or until browned, turning occasionally. Toss wings with reserved butter mixture. Serve with Blue Cheese Sauce.

Blue Cheese Sauce

• 1 (8-oz.) container sour cream
• 1/3 cup buttermilk
• 1 (3-oz.) wedge blue cheese, crumbled
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon coarse-grained mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper

Stir together sour cream, buttermilk, blue cheese, chives, lemon zest, lemon juice, mustard, salt, and pepper.

- See more at: http://theaverageconsumer.com/2012/11/consumer-cafe-election-appetizers/#sthash.FcIImPjk.dpuf

Whether you are a left winger or a right winger – here are some chicken wings for your election party that I found in my Southern Living Magazine.

Left Wings

• 2 teaspoons ground chipotle chile pepper
• 2 teaspoons black pepper
• 2 teaspoons salt, divided
• 4 1/2 to 5 lb. chicken wings
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 2 garlic cloves, pressed
• 1 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 (8-oz.) can tomato sauce
• 1 (6-oz.) can tomato paste
• 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 2 teaspoons hot sauce

1. Light 1 side of grill, heating to 350° to 400° (medium-high) heat. Combine first 2 ingredients and 1 tsp. salt. Cut off chicken wing tips, and discard; cut wings in half at joint. Toss wings with oil. Sprinkle chicken with pepper mixture, and toss.
2. Arrange wings over unlit side of grill, and grill, covered with grill lid, 18 to 20 minutes on each side or until done.
3. Meanwhile, melt butter in a saucepan over medium-high heat; add onion and garlic, and sauté 5 minutes or until tender. Reduce heat to medium. Add vinegar, next 5 ingredients, and remaining 1 tsp. salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, 10 to 12 minutes or until bubbly.
4. Transfer wings to a clean bowl; add half of butter mixture, reserving remaining mixture. Toss wings gently to coat. Place wings on lit side of grill. Grill, covered with grill lid, 10 minutes or until browned, turning occasionally. Toss wings with reserved butter mixture. Serve with Blue Cheese Sauce.

Right Wings

• 2 teaspoons ground chipotle chile pepper
• 2 teaspoons black pepper
• 2 teaspoons salt, divided
• 4 1/2 to 5 lb. chicken wings
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 2 garlic cloves, pressed
• 1 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 (8-oz.) can tomato sauce
• 1 (6-oz.) can tomato paste
• 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 2 teaspoons hot sauce

1. Light 1 side of grill, heating to 350° to 400° (medium-high) heat. Combine first 2 ingredients and 1 tsp. salt. Cut off chicken wing tips, and discard; cut wings in half at joint. Toss wings with oil. Sprinkle chicken with pepper mixture, and toss.
2. Arrange wings over unlit side of grill, and grill, covered with grill lid, 18 to 20 minutes on each side or until done.
3. Meanwhile, melt butter in a saucepan over medium-high heat; add onion and garlic, and sauté 5 minutes or until tender. Reduce heat to medium. Add vinegar, next 5 ingredients, and remaining 1 tsp. salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, 10 to 12 minutes or until bubbly.
4. Transfer wings to a clean bowl; add half of butter mixture, reserving remaining mixture. Toss wings gently to coat. Place wings on lit side of grill. Grill, covered with grill lid, 10 minutes or until browned, turning occasionally. Toss wings with reserved butter mixture. Serve with Blue Cheese Sauce.

Blue Cheese Sauce

• 1 (8-oz.) container sour cream
• 1/3 cup buttermilk
• 1 (3-oz.) wedge blue cheese, crumbled
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon coarse-grained mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper

Stir together sour cream, buttermilk, blue cheese, chives, lemon zest, lemon juice, mustard, salt, and pepper.

- See more at: http://theaverageconsumer.com/2012/11/consumer-cafe-election-appetizers/#sthash.FcIImPjk.dpuf

Clean Campaign, Issue Based Run wins in So. Cal. (Not an Onion Story)

Shocking as it may seem, a good guy underdog candidate won a long shot campaign to be Los Angeles' newest City Council member, and this in an off-year special election.

This is not an Onion story, but a case of savvy campaigning, good, selective, fundraising (listen up all you wanna-bes. Money is not all bad; just the "bad" money) and a strong campaign message. Here are some highlights from the Beverly Times story on underdog newcomer David Ryu's surprise victory:
 

 Councilman-elect David Ryu (second from right) was joined by supporters at a victory party on Tuesday, including former L.A. County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky (right) and his wife, Barbara. (photo courtesy of the David Ryu Campaign) 

Ryu defeated Carolyn Ramsay Tuesday night in the election to succeed Councilman Tom LaBonge. When the mail-in ballot results were announced shortly after 9 p.m., Ryu took a lead he never relinquished — winning with 53.83 percent of the vote. The final unofficial tally was 11,269 votes for Ryu and 9,657 votes for Ramsay.

“It hasn’t sunk in yet,” Ryu said Wednesday morning. “Even coming up to Election Day, I knew, and my team knew, what an awesome responsibility this would be.”

Ryu was fairly unknown coming into the race. He established himself early on as a master fundraiser and organizer, and his campaign team concentrated on signing up new voters and encouraging mail-in voting.

A son of Korean immigrants, Ryu majored in economics at UCLA and studied public policy and administration at Rutgers University. He is currently the director of development and public affairs at the Kedren Acute Psychiatric Hospital and Community Health Center. His past political experience included working as a senior deputy for former Los Angeles County Supervisor Yvonne Burke.

In the race against Ramsay, who previously worked as LaBonge’s chief of staff and garnered endorsements from the majority of local government officials, Ryu often cited himself as an outsider versus an insider, or as David versus Goliath.

He said the three main issues that dominated the election, and where he resonated with voters, were access to the council office, infrastructure repairs and development (including mansionization and large scale development concerns).

“Residents feel they are never consulted, or consulted after the fact — just show and tell,” Ryu said.

Instead, he ran on a platform of neighborhood inclusion — crediting his one-on-one conversations with voters as a reason he was able to win. Ryu only made it to the runoff election against Ramsay by several hundred votes, and he said he was determined to create more individual connections with voters.

“Literally, this election was going to come down to 50 or 100 people, and the people in those rooms (at forums and meetings) will dictate the office,” Ryu said. “I took my personal friends as a template. When I asked them why they didn’t vote, the reoccurring theme was that, ‘My vote doesn’t count, my vote doesn’t matter and even if I did vote nothing ever changes.’”

Ryu sought to change that perspective, and positioned himself as a real change to LaBonge’s actions and policies.

“It’s not about the big things, I was running to be your neighborhood council member,” Ryu said. “Your little problem isn’t insignificant to me.”

To show that he was serious about change, Ryu announced during the campaign that he would decline any money from developers currently building in the district and throughout his time as a councilman. He also vowed to create a community advisory group to help him properly spend the district’s discretionary funds.

So  no developer money (OK,  maybe it wasn't going to come to him anyway), issues that mattered to the people, respect for the voters and a real effort to include them even to find out why they don't vote. Showing that their vote matters made a difference against strong odds for this candidate, now Councilmember. 

You can do it too. With the right message, enough money to get the message out and a recipe for success.

Democrats Can Cook in California

Your campaign cook is dishing with the politicos at the California state Democratic Convention this weekend in Anaheim, home of Disneyland.  The food is a mixed grill of savories and sweets served with lots of spice. Many events, parties and celebrities are in the house.

Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren rocked the house; they were eating out of her hand. Gavin Newsom added some herbal touches, along with former Massachusetts Congressman Barney Frank at the Brownie Mary Democratic Club.

Brews of all sorts on hand from thirsty delegates. The Party shows progressive taste by dissing the Trans Pacific Partnership. That would not be good food for Democrats and other living things.

S.F. Congresswoman and former Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi brought us tasty delights and flavorful news of DC and beyond as she mixed and mingled with all the delegates throughout the day.

And State Attorney General, now candidate for U.S. Senator, Kamela Harris, provided food for the soul at an outdoor rally with hungry Democrats.

And though I missed their party down the street, I am ready to join Close the Gap with some smokin' hot races this fall and next year!

Mmm brownie recipe! (No, not that kind):

Ingredients 

Original recipe makes 16 brownies Change Servings

• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 2 tablespoons butter 
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
• 2 eggs

  Directions

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease an 8x8 inch square pan.
• In a medium saucepan, combine the sugar, butter and water. Cook over medium heat until boiling. Remove from heat and stir in chocolate chips until melted and smooth. Mix in the eggs and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; stir into the chocolate mixture. Spread evenly into the prepared pan.
• Bake for 25 to 30 minutes in the preheated oven, until brownies set up. Do not overbake! Cool in pan and cut into squares.
• 
  
   

Tongue Licking on the Campaign Trail - Inside Rand Paul

And now something completely different, and a word of advice to all campaigns. Don't do what Rand Paul's campaign did when they found a "tracker" from American Bridge , a watchdog group who keeps an eye on Republican shenanigans, in their midst. Now, they're all over the interwebs and it ain't pretty!

Thanks for this sneak peek, Campaign Sick. Recipe for what to do with that tongue below.

Rand Paul's Campaign is Licking the Competition.....Literally

In the video above Rand Paul's New Hampshire Political Director, David Chesley, LICKS the camera of an American Bridge tracker. I don't really know what to say because the absurdity of this story speaks for itself. Here are some thoughts:

1) From a campaign staff perspective, this is pretty funny. Having and being a tracker is an awkward situation, and nothing cuts tension like licking something.

2) If you are the kind of person who thinks Rand Paul is a good decision, I guess it is not that surprising that you also think licking strange recording equipment is.

3) The irony is that without the camera lick, this tracker probably would have gotten nothing from this meeting. As it stands, this video is all over my Facebook feed.

So moral of the story, unlike in real life, as a campaign staffer it's not usually a good idea to do something just because you think it's funny.

 

(Nancy Leeds [Campaign Sick author] is a writer and Democratic Campaign Operative who recently earned her MPA in Social Policy and Management at Columbia University. Sometimes people hire her to work on their non-profits and campaigns. When that happens, these opinions are still hers and do not reflect those of her candidates)

And now, here's what you can do with your  "Tongue". Enjoy.   1 Photo READY IN 3 hr Boiled Tongue Recipe by BLOSSOMFARM  "My Mother use to boil the heck out of it, and then peel the very thick skin, and serve it up on a platter for Sunday dinner - mmmmmm! I can't believe now that all us kids used to fight over the tip, and the next day - tongue sandwich to school with lots of mayonnaise."

When Consultants Collide

Another in the occasional series of  A Day in the Life of a Campaign Consultant:

You can't win them all. Sometimes you can't even get them. Read on to see what happens when life hands consultants lemons.

He walked up to me as though it were perfectly natural, as though we were friendly to one another. The room was crowded with partygoers and well-wishers. The event was for a local politician, a fundraiser on his behalf to get his campaign off to a sound start. I never even expected to see him there.

Let alone have him approach with a big smile on him face. Something was up. This man, we’ll call him Sherman, had stabbed me in a back a few years ago over a political campaign. In fact, he had stolen a campaign away from me, convincing the committee in charge of it that my ideas were all wet, so to speak (It was for a school bond matter that needed to go before the voters), and he, Sherman, could do a better job.

It came as a total surprise as he and I had worked peacefully together on a past issue. It had all worked out well, and we parted on good terms. So when I saw him at the meeting, I naturally said “Hi Sherm,” in an enthusiastic tone of voice.

The look on his face should have been a giveaway. He did not smile back but grimaced, as though his teeth ached. And then he pounced, starting from a crouch, “There seem to be a few problems with this,” he said, pointing to a flyer we had prepared, which the committee had been handing out with no complaints to date. “It doesn’t convey what we want to say.”

“In fact, it makes no sense at all.” Now he was loud. I could see he had half the room on him side, having prepared the moment. The other half sat placidly. No one contradicted him.  There was no point in explaining that the issue was not so much about schools but local control. Hence, the picture we used of people gathering together. 

There was no point in saying this design and message had passed muster with the very people who now joined in his tirade. There was certainly no point in mentioning that we had a contract. All irrelevant. It was a lynching. I crept from the room like a beaten dog, stunned.

Later I was to learn he had taken over the campaign, lost the campaign, and somewhere along the line, lost many of his followers. It didn’t matter. He had become my nemesis. When he turned up in another group I belonged to, I decided to keep a wary eye.

They say there are some people who are pure sociopaths. You can’t reason with them. You can’t appeal to their better nature, they don’t have one, you can only keep a close watch on their movements. Like a sidewinder, they slither up and attack the unsuspecting.

Even when you are alert, their fangs can be sunk into your flesh before you have time to scream.

Today, he was smiling. His most insincere smile I recognized by now. His “I’m coming for you” smile. It froze my blood. What could I do? Stuck in the crowd, fascinated, I watched him go to work.

“Are you [the politician’s] consultant,” he asked.

“I’m helping him,” I say.

“Well, you either are or you aren’t” he said, his smile beginning to harden, his eyes wide and staring.

The psycho bells were going off. The “let me out of here” alarms buzzing in my brain. Without missing a beat, he reached into his bag and pulled out some paper, which he proceeded to unfold. Reams of paper it seemed had been folded down into an 8 ½ by 11 inch package. “Look at this” he gloated, for what else could he be doing? He was showing me his mail from the campaign he had stolen from me. “You can get all this information on here and it mails for the same as a postcard.” He was triumphant. Was I supposed to show surprise, delight, horror?

“But you didn’t win” I say as calmly as I can.

“Only by 179 votes,“ he went on, undaunted. A small crowd seemed to have broken off the main throng and gathered around us. Could I escape?

“Look at all the information!” he insisted.

“People won’t read all that.”

“They do,” he continued, hearing nothing I was saying. He proceeded to tell me how people read it at the door, they read it in the post office.  

“OK,” I said, looking or a way out. “Aha” I thought, if I can’t get out, he has to leave.

"Thank you for sharing; I think that lady over there needs to talk to you” pointing vaguely toward the back of the building. 

“Oh” he exclaimed, quickly refolding him treasure and heading away.

I did the same, snatching up my purse and leaving out the side gate. As I walked home, I wondered when and how he would move in on this candidate, with whom I had only a general understanding not a contract.

If he falls for his crap, I think, he’s not the man for me, or for the job he seeks. Small comfort.

Neither of us got the gig with the candidate and he won his election anyway.

And here is the "When life hands you lemons" recipe for ginger lemon bars. Yum.

Lemon Ginger Bars

Crust:
1 1/2 cups unbleached flour
1/2 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 cup butter, cut into cubes
1 Tablespoon crystallized ginger
Lemon Topping:
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
1 Tablespoon lemon zest
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
additional powdered sugar for sifting over top

Heat the oven to 350°. In the bowl of a food processor, combine flour, butter, sugar and crystallized ginger. Pulse until dough starts to form. Press dough into an ungreased 9 x 13-inch baking pan. Build up the sides about 1/2 inch. Bake for 20 minutes.

In the bowl of the food processor — no need to wash it out — blend topping ingredients until light and foamy, about three minutes. Pour lemon mixture over crust. Bake for about 25 minutes until set and no indentation remains when touched in the center. Cool and cut into squares. Sift over additional powdered sugar if desired.

Lessons Political Consultants Learn

Even we seasoned campaigners can still learn from one another and from our clients and others involved in campaigns. Take for example my experience this weekend as a trainer in Direct Mail at the California Teachers' Association Political Training Academy in San Jose.

I was asked by a friend who's a trainer and organizer and all around amazing campaigner, to help her present a short talk on Direct Mail - my favorite topic.

Before our time to speak, we heard another veteran CTA campaigner talk about the ballot statement. How important it is and how you really can say a lot in 200 words or less. In fact, the problem has been to convince the candidates to say less, not more, in their ballot statements, not in an attempt to hide anything, but because brevity is everything in campaigns. The more text, and the denser the type, the fewer people will read it and those that do, may well miss the main points you are trying to make as they skim over the "wall of words."

I also learned that studies have shown that voters tend to look first (and possibly longest) at the side of the mail piece with their name on it. This is contrary to what many think, who think of the label side as the "back" of the mailer, and use it as a dumping ground for their long list endorsers in tiny print, or some dense language with their 12 point program on it.

Wrong. First of all, you don't know which way it will land in the mail box but chances are better than 50/50 it will be label side up as that's what the letter carrier is looking at. That's what you will see first. I wrote a blog post on this very topic in 2013.What's on the back of YOUR miler?

Second, you only get about 3 seconds of the voter's valuable time as he/she glances over your piece. Make the most of it on both sides, especially if it's a post card and those are the only sides you have.

If it's a folded piece, be mindful that both sides have to entice and lure the voter into opening it up, a process made more daunting when there is a sticky on one side, which there usually must be according to postal rules.

Knowing these and other "technical" rules, along with good graphics, a strong bulleted message and good timing, will help you send out the best and most persuasive mail you can to get voter's to cast their vote for you on Election Day.

Pay Equity, is it a thing? Find out April 20 in Marin?

Pay equity; supposedly California has had it since 1949, did you know that? I thought not. That's because there are more loopholes in the law than there are holes in Swiss cheese (I feel a recipe coming on for loophole cheese souffle).

So now Senator Hannah Beth Jackson is introducing a bill to close the loopholes, and we can only hope, bring true parity to pay scales in the State.

The Marin Women's Political Action Committee is on it. April 20 we will host a discussion with Assembly member Mark Levine and Jennifer Reisch, Legal Director of SF Equal Rights Advocates 


So come and learn and speak up and take action! Politics is not a spectator sport and if affects all of us. 

$10 includes food and drink. Redwoods Presbyterian Church, 110 Magnolia Larkspur. 6 PM. RSVP Barbara at bmatas8139@aol.com or 897-1224.

 Swiss Cheese 
"Loophole" Souffle

• 4 tablespoons softened butter
• 2 tablespoons finely grated Parmesan
• 3 tablespoons flour
• 1 cup hot milk
• 1/4 teaspoon paprika
• Pinch nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon white pepper
• 4 egg yolks
• 5 egg whites
• 1 cup coarsely grated Swiss cheese

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Butter a 6-cup souffle or straight-sided baking dish with 11/2 tablespoons butter. Dust the interior of the dish with the Parmesan and knock out the excess.
In a large saucepan, melt the remaining butter over medium high heat. Stir in the flour and cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly, until the butter and flour foam and froth. Remove the pan from the heat and beat in the hot milk, then simmer over medium heat and stir slowly until thick, about 1 to 2 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and whisk in the seasonings, then the egg yolks, 1 by 1.
Whip the egg whites to stiff, shining peaks, then whisk 1/4 of them into the sauce to lighten it. Delicately fold the remaining egg whites into the sauce, alternating with the grated Swiss cheese.
Turn the souffle mixture into the prepared dish and set in the oven. Reduce the heat to 375 degrees F and bake until the souffle has puffed 1 or 2-inches above the rim and has browned on top, about 25 to 30 minutes. Serve immediately.