A Family Who Votes

Today I visited with my grandmother Lucy and told her that early voting starts on October 24th! She said, “When do we get in the car to vote?”. Ever since I was 18, every election she asks me if I voted. She has been my biggest influence on why I am so engaged in my community. She was able to raise 6 kids, work, volunteer to get people elected, and then raise her grandkids to be civically engaged. When I was about 7, she took me to a fundraiser for State Senator Eliot Shapleigh, who was running for the first time. I heard his speech, shook his hand, and said, “Yep, you’re going to win.” Fast forward ten years and I am interning in his office, fast forward six years, and I am his Chief of Staff, fast forward eleven years and I am running for City Council seeing my name on the ballot. I am excited about this election and have made all my events kid-friendly, because hopefully in the crowd of kids I am passing the torch and inspiring a future leader of 2042.