See Something Say Something Do Something

Do y’all remember the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) slogan “If You See Something, Say Something”? Well, this fifty-eight year old Black mom/grandma/taxpayer/voter has seen entirely too many vulnerable children left behind. Now, I am trying other solutions and doing something different.

Decisions

In May, I made a significant decision in my life: I entered the political arena and jumped in the race for State senate. I was motivated by a strong compulsion to help stop bad decision makers from making a living off of the suffering of Connecticut families and communities. I entered head-on into politics to help create meaningful change for our families, our children, and our communities in an increasingly uncertain time within our state and country.

It’s clear, I am not a career politician. I’m a mom, a parent leader, and a community organizer. I saw the 2024 presidential election as a unique opportunity, especially when viewed through the framework of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Regardless of the election’s outcome, I believed it would benefit underdog candidates like myself and pave the way for future contenders. This matters because the everyday concerns of citizens regarding the direction of our state and nation are inspiring more individuals to think about running for public office. The main obstacle I see is the gatekeeping from the two major political parties. This election held the promise of creating opportunities for candidates devoted to enhancing the safety, education, and well-being of children and vulnerable communities. Additionally, it provides a platform to highlight critical issues impacting our homes, communities, and schools.

As a resident of Connecticut, a state that strongly leans Democratic, I am keenly aware of the challenges our communities face, especially as national issues impact us locally. We are grappling with economic struggles, concerns over the lack of expanded school choice opportunities within public education – to include the trades. What are the implications of global conflicts, and the complexities of immigration reform? These pressing matters demand our immediate attention. Additionally, I want to emphasize the importance of not further overtaxing and overburdening American taxpayers and voters while we are addressing these government driven challenges.

Doing My Part

When I learned my former opponent, the AFT teacher union president was running again for the Senate seat, I felt a strong sense of duty as a mother and engaged citizen to speak up for Connecticut’s vulnerable families, and communities – to include supporting the private sector, especially small businesses. Why? The considerable power of unions in Connecticut’s supermajority legislature raises significant concerns about conflicts of interest that impacts the overall well-being of our families and communities not engaged in public sector employment.

“Recent data received through a Freedom of Information request shows that 12,954 (57%) out of 22,614 state employees received payment awards totaling $1,000 or more, with some individuals receiving payouts reaching $5,688. Conversely, 66,038 (42%) out of 156,439 private sector workers received $1,000 — the maximum payout the program allowed.” 

This blog series, “Battle to the Ballot,” shares my journey as a parent leader aspiring to hold public office and will feature the experiences of other underdog candidates who are striving for meaningful change, along with the important lessons we’ve all learned along the way.

Overcoming Fears of Political Violence

When I first announced my candidacy, I discovered that there was an endorsed Republican candidate already in the race. As a courtesy, I reached out to this candidate, but my efforts went unanswered. I also learned that some individuals were unhappy about my entry into the race because of the unwritten “pecking orders” that exist within the two major political parties. I, however, do not conform to a “herd mentality.” As a result, on May 28th, I submitted the necessary paperwork to the Secretary of State to officially challenge this candidate. This process required gathering 523 signatures by June 11th. Unfortunately, due to learning curves and without a dedicated team and sufficient resources for outreach, I was unable to qualify.

Despite this setback, I refused to be discouraged and shifted to a nominating petition that required 329 signatures by August 7th. I came very close, falling short with just 325 signatures.

The Blessing in the Pressing

By mid-August, I was feeling deflated, but I knew I had a responsibility to myself and to those who supported me. On August 8th, a Hispanic grandmother called me at dawn, urging me not to give up. Inspired by her encouragement, I decided to run as a write-in candidate. Although I would be at the bottom of a ballot, with no name and dominated by career politicians and cross-endorsed candidates, I had faith in my abilities and in the power of the people to make change because Connecticut needs diversity of thought – we need change.

The Battle

The journey to getting my name on the ballot was far more difficult than I anticipated. Many of my supporters in education assured me that once I secured my spot on the ballot, I would have ample backing with fundraising. I soon realized the hard way that I had plenty of cheerleaders but not enough people willing to roll up their sleeves and help—definitely a lesson learned.

The information about district boundaries and signature requirements was inconsistent across different towns. For example, in Middletown and Cheshire, officials mistakenly claimed that District 13 didn’t exist, even though I was running for that very district. I’ve come to understand that voter registrars are often overworked and underpaid, leading to high turnover rates. This realization highlights the difficulties that ordinary citizens, like me, face when attempting to navigate the complex process of running for public office, particularly within a two major party system where they are the majority decision makers.

To add to this civic education mis-education process, I found myself dealing with the mandated paperwork for the voluntary Citizens Election Program, despite my decision to opt out. While this program aims to promote clean election financing for qualified candidates seeking statewide offices and positions in the General Assembly, I had to adhere to its requirements simply because one of my opponents chose to participate. It was undeniably frustrating and felt quite unfair.

Giving Change a Chance

A pivotal moment in my campaign occurred when I received the endorsement from the Independent Party of Connecticut in late August. This gave me the momentum via name recognition that I needed to officially enter the race. Without their backing, I would likely have remained simply another overlooked non-two-party write-in candidate.

My campaign was genuinely grassroots, fueled by more courage and passion than money. While my opponents raised hundreds of thousands, or even millions, I managed to secure $3,000. Each dollar was spent strategically to connect with everyday folk and share our message: “Give Change a Chance” – get to know each candidate before voting. What are their family values? Do they believe in school choice to ensure we leave no child behind?

Running as an underdog in a highly polarizing two-party system posed significant challenges. The political atmosphere was rife with “herd mentality” partisanship and escalating political violence. However, my campaign prioritized everyday families and communities – people over parties, focusing on improving our family and community quality of life.

Interestingly enough, after the election, I felt a renewed sense of hope. This historic presidential race demonstrated that there is indeed room for non-traditional candidates. I learned that meaningful change begins with the courage to take action, even when the obstacles seem daunting.

In 2023, I launched the Vote 4 Other Guy (or Gal) all things civic education campaign, which includes my weekly podcast. This Civic Education 101 initiative is designed to engage and encourage vulnerable communities to make informed voting choices – putting themselves first year round- rather than following the crowd also known as “herd mentality”. As a community organizer with a national reach, V4OG also supports the vetted efforts of non-career underdog candidates running for public office – against the odds.

In my opinion, as a former common sense candidate for state senate, there are two clear takeaways from this 2024 presidential and statewide election. First, we have observed a significant shift in vulnerable communities, as they move away from the traditional “going along to get along” voting patterns. Second, it is essential to promote diversity in both the backgrounds and ideas of candidates running for public office, especially in small suburban and urban towns.

My name is Gwen Samuel and I approve this message!