My First Campaign Experience

By Mike Ferguson

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Michael Ferguson is a Libertarian Candidate for Charter Commissioner of Belton near Kansas City

Well, I've just walked in the door. I’m back from my first appearance as a political candidate.

I must confess I've been a little nervous about this for a week or so. The appearance was a forum for all Charter Commissioner candidates. I've never run for office before and really didn't know what to expect. Did they want a speech? A debate? Something else?

As it turned out, most of the evening candidates mingled with voters, and everyone downed some very good, free cookies!

It was obvious early on that I was a different kind of candidate. Oh sure, I dressed up in a suit with the red "power tie". That wasn't out of the ordinary.

The difference was simply I was open about WHY I'm running. The group that sponsored the event offered to make up informational flyers for all the candidates. I chose to produce my own. Man, mine was markedly different from the rest!

The other flyers bragged about the unions and civic groups the candidates belonged to, where they go to church, and how many grandchildren they have.

Mine stated WHY I'm running, WHAT I think a Charter Commissioner should accomplish and HOW I believe that a Charter should be used to keep the government as small as possible.

Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with the personal biographies, but I didn't think people came out to learn about my genealogy and merit badges. I did learn that I might be a distant relative of the Democratic candidate for Prosecuting Attorney. But that's another story.

Either I am *way* ahead of everyone else or I *really* blew it tonight. Honestly, I don't know which.

One gentleman took me to task over my position that voters should at least have the right to approve or deny all bonds including TIF bonds, like the ones Belton is about to issue without our approval and tax increases. No taxation without representation I think it’s called.

I politely listened as he explained why cities would never prosper without a lot of taxes to provide for "growth" and that opposing TIFs is ridiculous because no business will ever come to Belton if taxpayers don't finance it for them.

I smiled, thanked him for his opinion, told him that I understand his position. Then I clearly stated that I disagree with him on all counts. His jaw pretty much hit the floor when I said that. I guess candidates aren't supposed to disagree with anyone they are speaking to.

At least he said that he'd have to "think twice a couple of times" before voting for me. He didn't exactly say he wouldn’t, but maybe he's a distant relative of Yogi Berra or something.

Oh well, I didn't expect that anyone would be elected unanimously. At least there were more people who agreed with me than disagreed with me.

Overall, I thought things went pretty well. Some people quizzed me on why I'm running and what I want to do if elected. The newspaper reporter snapped a couple of pictures of me when I was answering some of the quizzing and he took down a couple of quotations.

There will be at least 22 candidates competing for 13 positions. Most of them pretty well known and many of them current and former office holders in Belton. I'm running a one‑man band campaign, so my fate will rely on how many hands I shake and questions I answer between now and April 2nd. I'd love to do one letter mailing and one postcard mailing, if I can get my hands on (here comes the pitch) enough donated stamps (end of pitch).

I'll probably spend the next day or so going over in my head what I said, and what I didn't say but should have and what I could have done better. I'll make some adjustments and be better prepared for the next forum.

At least I'm finally off the sidelines and in the game.

Mike Ferguson
Candidate for Belton Charter Commissioner

Contributions and stamps to michaelaferguson@yahoo.com.