North Long Beach Community activist Dan Pressburg responds to my post from yesterday.
Why Democracy Worked in the 6th District
by Dan Pressburg
Everyone thought Dee Andrews was down for the count and was hardly going to be a factor in the 6th District Council race. The names of Austin, Saafir, Parker, and Ascevedo seemed to come up in most discussions and conversations pertinent to the 6th district council race. Dee Andrews seemed to be no where on the radar screen and proved once again, it is the will of the people that makes the difference.
Most everyone likes to joke about democracy as one of the worst forms of government except for all other forms of government. Most everyone concedes that it might even be better if we let a few smart people run the show in perilous times. Time and time again the fact is that democracy leads to better outcomes because it works out natural problems the way the world and life works. Complex questions like political races adjust to the hearts and minds of the community even when what seems to be unlikely or doubtful is the furthest from what is conceived as the outcome.
Once again, my friend Dee Andrews stepped up to the plate, understood his community and constituency to take the lead Tuesday night in the 6th District Council race. It should be no surprise that when democracy and hard work shines the result can be wonderful and surprising. If you asked Kelton Reese, Dee’s campaign manager, he would also tell you of the hard work during the campaign and that it is democracy at work that made this outcome reality, nothing more or nothing less. In retrospect you can’t say it is anything else. It definitely was not all the money raised because Dee raised just about $14,000.00 to the high of over $66,000.00. It definitely wasn’t endorsements because that was split between unions, business concerns, political action groups and elected officials. It wasn’t signs or candidate speeches at forums that brought in the votes. What Dee Andrews and Kelton Reese did was wear out the shoe leather and meet people face to face. They discussed what was on the minds of the community and what was in their hearts on making the 6th District a better place to live. That is what resonated and translated to votes at the ballot box.
There are approximately 300 votes remaining in the 6th district race and I suspect that the outcome from the remaining outstanding votes will continue to favor Dee Andrews. I also suspect that the runner-up will make preparations for a litigious solution challenging the election if the outcome remains under 50 votes. That of course means a recount and is the right of any candidate. This should be no surprise anyone. It should also be no surprise however, that if the remaining uncounted votes are mostly absentee ballots, Mr. Andrews will undoubtedly is the 6th District Council Member without question.