Saturday, September 22, 2007 ~ 4:45 pm
(The 8th and final day of Walk-and-Talk 2007.)

Aurora greeted us at Dorie’s, Cayuga Lake sparkling through the windows. We met students from Wells College, professors, and future voters alike.

Too soon, it was time for the climb out of Aurora, along Route 90, up the fabled Pumpkin Hill. Long and steep, it lived up to its lore. The saving grace was the beauty that surrounded us and the breeze off the lake.

Then came the relentless heat of the last day of summer sun as Route 34B suddenly faced us in an unforgiving, multi-mile straightaway without shade. Where were the forecasted “scattered showers”? Rebecca and Bernie started hopping rides in the car, on and off, with Celena. I dug harder into the road.

I think about the people that we have met this week, who got excited about our campaign, who shared with us their stories. Heart-wrenching stories about problems with medical insurance and about those who are without. Frustrating stories about layoffs and plant closings and decreases in local union memberships. Fears over the Indian land claim. Questions of whether small business owners can make it. Every one of these people doing the best that they can, and giving what they can to support our campaign for change.

The rains came moments after we arrived at Myers Park in Lansing, some 162 miles from where I started. Cheers! New friends and old, toast over ice tea and chocolate cake. A call of congratulations comes from our N.Y.S. Democratic Committee Chairwoman, June O’Neil.

Something special happened in this week. We struck a match in the dark, and experienced its growth into the flame of a small, warm fire. At the four stops we made on the drive home, people recognized me and wanted to become connected.

There is something else going on. Harder to capture in words. Is it almost a sigh of relief? For the public, there is a true desire for choice, a ballot with opponents, a call to them to do their job – to vote.

They knew, didn’t they? James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay. Knew that if given the right, if given a choice, we, The People, would step forward to participate in our democracy.

Tonight, I will sleep a big sleep and dream a big dream.

Friday, September 21, 2007 ~ 9:30 pm
(The 7th day of Walk-and-Talk.)

It’s a great Auburn good morning as we meet and greet people near twice as long as scheduled, and we could easily have stayed longer. Everyone has questions to ask and stories to tell. Everyone talks about change. We are ten strong in campaign team, and we work hard to meet the dozens of customers flowing in and out. Conversation flows as waitresses keep topping up the coffee.

The road to Union Springs winds more downhill than up. Cars are now beeping at us, even before we are waving at them. When we stop to buy apples and peach tarts, people recognize having seen us yesterday and cheer us on for today. Wading in Cayuga Lake at Fontenac Park provides instant relief from the sun.

Then it is on to Aurora, with roads truly on the downhill. We talk to people all along the way. The water shimmers and shines. The warmth and the breeze caress the fall flowers colored purple, gold, white. At the door to tonight’s house party, the hostess, who we are meeting for the first time, throws her arms open wide, “Welcome Democrats!”

It’s mile marker 142.4, with only one day to go.

Thursday, September 20, 2007
(The 6th day of Walk-and-Talk.)

Jeremy’s Café in Seneca Park attracts people from all over the US, visiting the Women’s Rights National Historical Park. We receive support, including from our waitress from last night and a small business owner with a shop of the main street that we met yesterday. History stands with us.

The walk to Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge is as full of massive trucks as yesterday in Seneca County. Landfill issues are ever on my mind. In Seneca County, prisoners from N.Y.C. In Cayuga County, garbage from N.Y.C. Is this what we want as our local economy?

The Refuge is a sanctuary the moment one steps off the road. More than 8,000 acres surround us, the air full of hawks soaring high on the winds. And, for the first time, I see eagles in the wild. This District has the natural beauty necessary for eco-tourism, which can be tied into the wine trail and the historic downtown areas. This is the future that I see for our area.

Turnpike Road, winding through Cayuga County, proves quite the challenge of up-down, up-down, up-down. The humidity is high. The trucks continue to plow past us. The people continue to be friendly and curious. By the time we reach the stream in Throopsville, I am ready to walk through it to cool down my ever-so-hot feet, but there isn’t sufficient time to rest.

Auburn, at last, after a long, steady uphill. We are greeted at the Auburn Family Restaurant with ice cream sodas.

Wednesday, September 19, 2007 ~ 5:10 pm

Flour Petal Café for morning coffee feels as if old friends surround me, as the banter of politics laces with java. Everyone who stops by donates dollars for democracy. The talk is of the beginnings of Democratic resurgence in the area.

But this is the morning that proves the most challenging this week. It is my one-day on bicycle, when I had planned a 36-mile bike ride to allow my muscles to rest after 66 miles of walking. Instead, I find myself pedaling hard, even on downhills, to climb higher and higher on Route 96A in Seneca County to get to Sampson State Park. Brilliant blue skies - yes. Estimated 20 mile per hour winds blowing straight at me – oh, no. The line from a Tim McGraw song rings in my head: “How bad do you want it?”

When I can finally turn left to go east, tall, old trees grace me with shelter. Even though the entire length of the road is uphill, I have a quiet moment to enjoy the views, the Amish carriages and farm stands, and the horses. A farmer explains that the corn is drying on the stalks before it has matured and can be harvested. Two women at a small business say they critically need affordable health insurance. Neither the beauty nor the issues belong to any one political party. Our District is purple.

In Seneca Falls, we stop at the Women’s Rights National Historical Park. Our history – having to fight for the right to vote – hangs in the air like July fireflies. The Suffragettes stood on this corner to start the women’s rights movement. Their convictions transcended their individual differences and they accomplished enduring results. This is the spirit that we must capture and take to Albany to solve our problems. There is a greater good to be had among us. What we must find is the unity to get the job done.

Tuesday, September 18, 2007 ~ 10:00 pm

Thank you WGVA for radio interviews of substance! The day started strong and just kept rolling. The scenic miles between Phelps and Geneva quickly passed, with September-blue skies drawing people outside with whom I stopped to chat.

It’s funny, the different reactions I get from people when I tell them that I am walking more than 150 miles this week. One man was impressed enough when I stopped to introduce myself, but had even more spring in his step when he later saw me campaigning in downtown Geneva. “Hey!” he called out, and caught up to me, “You made it!” In this instance, “I told you so,” with a smile, was the appropriate response. He said I had his vote.

Geneva suffers from storefront vacancies in its original downtown areas, like Phelps, like Lyons, like the other towns on this walk, like the other towns throughout this District. Those who are small business owners shared their stories of problems with the government in operating their businesses. As a small business owner of 15 years, I share those concerns. We talk about ideas and options.

The evening includes primary election results with the Ontario County Democratic Committee. Cheers erupt as various Election District results are rushed in. The slate is set. 2007 promises to be a banner year for town and county elections. A New Year’s Eve mood fills the air.

Monday, September 17, 2007 ~ 4:45 pm

How far it feels from home, a “mere” 56.6 miles of footfall later. Three full days of walking and talking and making new friends. Wistfully, I wonder if we’re getting closer, not only to Lansing, but also to the mindset of our Founding Fathers, especially James Madison.

But it’s also a true history of American campaigning today. We started at a family-owned restaurant in Newark, where the morning coffee crowd was full of regulars. On to Lyons, where the park gazebo and the domed old courthouse invited streams of people to share lemonade and hot dogs. And in Phelps, even over dinner there was spontaneous campaigning when folks found out how far we had walked for that homemade meatloaf. Finished the day at the Community center with an intimate roundtable of issues, running from rural health care delivery to family law reform.

It is a different way of life – this life on the road with a primary purpose of reaching out to and connecting with strangers. It’s the farmer who drove his bright red Ford pick-up next to us for at least a mile on a back county road. It’s the school bus driver to honked and honked and waved and waved and smiled that big encouraging smile. The people that make up the patchwork of this region, with whom we will rebuild it, again.

A man in the diner asked me how I could be so sure that we can rebuild. I have no doubt that it is but a question of change in leadership. The heart and soul of this District is firmly intact.

Sunday, September 16, 2007 ~ 7:30 pm

Arrived Newark at mile marker 40.1, touching the door of the spot where we begin tomorrow morning. Phew! We walked today from downtown Williamson through downtown Marion to downtown Palmyra through downtown Newark.

Something special is happening. Our determination to go out to The People to get them excited about Democracy is taking hold. My belief that people want to be involved and make a difference is being reaffirmed. People are making the theme of the walk their own, as they empty their pockets with “Change for Change” and “A Dollar for Democracy.”

We are taking people outside of their lives for a moment. All of us believing that change is possible.

Saturday, September 15, 2007 ~ 4:30 pm

Four solid appearances, in spite of the weather. I woke to pouring rain and blackened skies, but was undeterred in body or spirit. Sure enough, at Webster Park, there were smiling faces, even ahead of our arrival. The rain broke. The clouds and the wind wouldn’t. And, after much support and encouragement, we took the first step, and we were off.

Energy abounded at the start in Webster, greeted us in Town of Ontario, carried us through Mason Farms to The Apple Crate in Williamson. We were cheered and greeted by Democratic Committee members, spouses, neighbors, friends.

And the question I had been asking was answered: new people came, as well. “John Q. Public” is starting to have a face. We have started to connect to the public

September 14, 2007

The night before anything big in a person’s life, what is there to do? Clean the house? Reread and reread the same paragraph of a book? Call my mother?

The mind goes over, and over, slowly, each step of the walk that starts tomorrow. It’s what a lifetime of planning has taught. Slow and steady. Envision the road, the curve of the road, the turn that will be taken.

Winds bluster. Rains start. The temperature drops sharply.

How will it feel the night before the election?

September 14, 2007

Lansing or bust! We're kicking off our campaign by walking from Webster to Lansing, more than 150 miles across the 54th District of the New York State Senate. 8 days. 18 campaign stops. It's campaigning the way our Forefathers used to do it: on foot and in person.

Along the trail, I'll be answering your questions. I'm also going to turn it around to ask you a question: "Do you have a Dollar for Democracy?"

You want change. You want a Senator with fresh energy and fresh ideas on health insurance, property taxes, and retirement benefits. You want a Senator who will fight for the environment and the development of green energies. I will be that Senator, if you will be part of that change.

The only way for us to change Albany is to win this election. To win this election, each one of us needs to participate. Walk a mile or two with me along the trail. Share a coffee at Flour Petals Café. Bring us a $1 for Democracy. Show up at a campaign event with a homemade sign, your kids, and your dog.

Our democracy is precious. For too long, our region has been choked off by single party politics, while our region has suffered. This race is now a two-party race for the first time in a long time. Here is our opportunity. It's time for change.

September 13, 2007

What comes is the loud quiet. The one full of hope and belief. The one that turns down the clutter of the every day this-and-that. The one that slows time. It is there you find yourself walking with a looking glass, looking into yourself and saying, “I can do this,” waiting, checking that the voice of doubt has grown too weak to say anything, its arguments, long exhausted.

Is there a way to answer the Reporters’ questions on what inspires the walk? That this country was founded for fundamental freedoms that the current administration wants to plow under. That we have to find solutions before we do in the planet? That my neighbor, in his wheelchair, cheered me on while I was training?

This is what it will be these eight days. The long, long ribbon of road in front of me. The race it represents.

The loud quiet of focus has arrived to walk with me.

September 11, 2007

Six years later, and the dying of 9-11 continues, still. The planes. The towers. The soldiers, still.

And what have we done to pay them honor? Have our state or federal governments prioritized their deficit-driven spending to implement the recommendations of the 9-11 Commission? Have our returning troops received comprehensive and accessible medical care and treatment? Have we talked, openly, honestly, about the truth of the start of the War in Iraq?

The answer does not lie in simple changes of majorities of this or that party; it exists in the potential for a change of leadership. A return to the guiding light of our fundamental freedoms, and to respect for life. A return to the soul of The People.