The election is over....

 

This year's school board election was a learning experience. Over the past several months, it was invigorating to feel that I could do something that would have a real positive effect on our community.  It was, however, not always easy doing something of this magnitude for the first time. I know that as good of an experience as it was, I did not fully realize how much time, effort and money it would take. I also know that this was not something that could be done alone. Having two running exceptional mates was essential from the start.  We learned that we also needed support from others to make it work.  It does take a village.  The last thing we learned was how to accept a negative outcome, unofficial as it is currently. See Delaware County unofficial results at:http://election.co.delaware.pa.us/eb/November_2011/35S.html.

 

This campaign was a time of meeting many, many very nice and very supportive people. It was a time to learn to ask for help. It was a time for getting to know two people, my running mates, whose friendship I value, though I may not miss twenty or thirty calls or emails per day.  It was a time for putting many things on hold in order to learn about the issues in the school district, and to knock on doors, greet people at very cold train stations, talk to people at small group coffees, organize fundraisers, design and put out mailings, decipher the political system, and generally try to run an effective campaign.  It was also an invaluable experience; it was priceless.

 

At the end of this process I want to thank my family (and the families of my running mates) for helping to make the campaign happen and to thank you for your support, whether that was words of encouragement, help with the campaign, a financial contribution, or anything else.  Without that support there could not have been over 3,500 votes cast for each of the three of us.  This is truly gratifying - that so many people had confidence in us. 

 

I sincerely hope that the process of this election will stir RTM residents to take a more active interest in the affairs of the district and to express opinions to the decision-makers.  I know that I have learned a lot and I will try to use that knowledge to stay involved. We owe this to our children and to our community.

 

John, Jim and I learned that we can't do campaigns like this alone.  We also learned that every vote counts.  Please remember that with each and every coming election.

 

Thank you again for your support and for your efforts to try to get us elected. 

 

Janet

 

 

Janet Lis

Media, PA