Campaign Journal 2010

Nov 3: Post-election message: Feeling Great!

Nov 2: Issued election morning message. Photos from the day.

Nov 1: Super standouts everywhere up and down. Rally for Real Change at Park Square Pittsfield at 4:30 pm with Mark Miller and Jill Stein. Received the endorsement of Dan Valenti.

Oct 31: Afternoon standouts in Lee and in Great Barrington. Canvassing in Pittsfield.

Oct 30: Morning standout in Lee. Afternoon canvassing in Great Barrington, Stockbridge, Housatonic, and Lenox. Standout and canvassing in Pittsfield.

Oct 29: Morning and evening standouts in Great Barrington. Evening standout in Lenox. Issued a statement on 'the co-sponsorship ruse.'

Oct 28: Morning standout in Stockbridge. Afternoon standout in Lenox. Obtained the endorsement of the Berkshire Record and a very favorable mention in today's Berkshire Eagle editorial.

Oct 27: Morning standout in Lenox. Mid-day debate with opponent on Larry Kratka's Vox Radio. (Read about it in Dan Valenti's blog.) Canvassing in Sheffield and West Stockbridge. Evening standouts in Lenox and Lee.

Oct 26: Morning standout in Lenox. Afternoon canvassing / standing out in Blandford, Otis, Sandisfield, and Tolland. Thanks Wendy and Janet for the sandwiches, wonderful seeing Winnie and Peter again. Hope you got my note, Mike. Bumped into many people today. Very fine warm weather. Evening standout in Pittsfield.

Oct 25: Morning standout in Lee.

Oct 24: Resonded via e-mail to a request from the Massachusetts District Attorneys Association regarding a legislative proposal the organization is seeking.

Oct 23: Morning stand out in Lee. Attended W.E.B. DuBois celebration with Arthur in Great Barrington. Canvassing, standing out and community dinner in Chester with Patrick, where I reconnected with Jim, Amanda, Wade and others (thanks, Michele, for the great sign placement). Drinks and dancing with Mark in Pittsfield at the Berkshire Stonewall Community Coalition Halloween Party, where we ran into Nicole, Najwa, Gabriel, and Peter. (Didn't stay as long as I wished - I was tired!)

Oct 22: Morning stand out in Great Barrington. Nice seeing John on the sidewalk to talk about gun laws, casinos, and the influence of money in politics.

Oct 21: Stand out in Stockbridge, business canvassing in Great Barrington. Good old fashioned canvassing in West Stockbridge. Third Thursday in Pittsfield. House party in Lenox. Thanks new volunteers! Thank you Susan and Geoffrey for putting up signs.

Oct 20: Stand out in Lee. Interview with the Berkshire Eagle editorial board. Canvassing in Egremont and Great Barrington. Met Matt, who just turned 18 and registered to vote in time to vote for me on Nov 2!

Oct 19: Standout in Lenox greeting morning commuters.

Thank you, Dave, Merelice, Arthur, and (photographer) Judy!  Dave is holding a Nat Fortune sign. Nat will be at BCC on Oct 25 for an auditor debate to which all three candidates were invited.

Oct 18: Met with District Attorney David Capeless to learn more about an issue that the state District Attorneys are publicly discussing: a funding imbalance between public procesuting and public defending. Canvassing in Pittsfield. Televised interview live broadcast and taped on Pittsfield Community Television.

Oct 17: Nice time at the Egremont Volunteer Fire Department Annual Steak Dinner.

Oct 16: Canvassing in Egremont and in Alford. Attended a lecture by Dr. Douglas Tallamy of the University of Delaware. Dr. Tallamy spoke about the importance of promoting native biodiversity in our yards. I was pleased to happen upon Dr. Tallamy and his wife later on in the day in town and talk further about this. Thanks, Peter, Kate, and Brian for putting up signs. Thanks, Elizabeth, for sharing your perspective on health care. I was happy to reconnect with Paul, a local farmer who updated me on legislation he was interested in.

Oct 15: Stand-out in Great Barrington.

Oct 14: Meeting with Superintendent Ed Costa of Lenox public schools. Canvassing in Sheffield. Responded to a proposal from the MA District Attorneys about legislation they would like to see. Will be meeting with David Capeless about it next week for more information, and will issue a statement. Article appeared in the Berkshire Record about Question 4. Interview with WAMC reporter. Enjoyed meeting Rosemary and discussing public transportation and other issues.

Oct 13: Stand-out in Lee. Meeting with Superintendent J. McCandless of the Lee Public School system. Canvassing in Sheffield and in Great Barrington. The Berkshire Eagle ran an article about Question 4, which I support, and in which I was quoted.

Oct 12: Attended the Select Committee meeting in Tyringham. Interviewed by a reporter on ballot Question 4, for public health insurance. Thanks, Judy, for making some picket signs for stand-outs to come. Enjoyed meeting Teri, a new volunteer.

Oct 11: Bicycle-canvassed in Monterey (a beautiful autumn afternoon). Thanks, Bob, for showing me your bicycle. Mary, hope you found the video I shared with you to be informative. Thanks, Arthur and Virginia, for putting up a sign. Glad to meet Joel and Alice after hearing about them from mutual friends Winnie and Peter. I'll try to make the gig.

Oct 10: Responded to candidate questionnaires from Common Cause and from Massachusetts Citizens for Life.

Oct 8: Morning stand-out in Great Barrington (in nice weather!) with a supporter. It was cold, but we had hot chocolate. Interview with a reporter on ballot question #4 for public health insurance. Afternoon trek by bicycle to the Lenox Farmers' Market, through Lee, and into Tyringham for some canvassing. Bicycled back to Lee where I caught the bus back home. I waved at Karen from the bus, she saw my bicycle on the rack but I don't think she saw me. Thanks, Donald and Rose for putting up signs. Thanks, Sara, for joining the canvassing team.

Oct 7: Canvassing in Lee and in Sheffield.

Oct 6: Stand-out in the morning, and canvassing during the afternoon and evening in Lee.

Oct 5: Attended the Select Committee meeting in Lee.

Oct 4: Met with fellow supporters of Question 4, for a single payer health care solution for Massachusetts. Canvassed in Pittsfield. Thank you, Anne, Maureen, Joe, and to the cool gathering on Worthington Place. Boston.com introduced its voters guide for elections in all districts of the commonwealth. My profile and answers to questions on health care, pensions, MCAS, term limits, and others have been published.

Oct 3: Thank you Ted, of Great Barrington! It was really nice seeing you again.

Oct 2: Spoke at a rally by the Public Higher Education Network of Massachusetts (PHENOM) along with fellow candidates Mark Miller, Paul Mark, and Benjamin Downing. My observations and prepared text are blogged. Later in the day I joined students and leaders on the Lenox portion of their cross-state walk.

Oct 1: A soggy standout this morning in Great Barrington with two troopers having lots of fun (but no photos to share). Hot chocolate was served afterwards.

Sep 30: Canvassing in Blandford with Patrick, who recently joined the campaign as field director for the eastern part of the district. Thanks for the hospitality, Alice and Gina. Nice seeing supporters Angela and Paul again.
     
Patrick taking a break from canvassing
on a windy rainy evening in Blandford.

Sep 29: Early morning standout in Lee with Mark, Donald, Jason, Darlene, and Donovan. Had a good discussion with Darlene about MCAS.
                
Evening town forum on budget shortfalls in Lenox. Spoke with voters outside Town Hall about Tax Fairness.

Sep 28: Met with Peter and friends in Lee, another Peter in Monterey, and attended the Select Committee meeting in Otis.

Sep 27: Attended the meetings of the Board of Health and the Select Committee of Alford.

Sep 25: Enjoyed meeting people at Founders Weekend in Lee and at the Apple Squeeze in Lenox. Met some new friends at the inaugural opening of the wine bar 'Get Lit.'

Sep 24: Canvassing in Housatonic and in Great Barrington. Thanks, Gabe, Sylvia, Barbara, Steve, Josefa, and Robert for putting out signs.

Sep 23: Bicycle canvassing in Pittsfield, a very nice first day of autumn.

Sep 22: Canvassing in Chester. Thanks, Jamie and Michele, for putting up signs. Reconnected with Bill and Dave.

Sep 21: Canvassing in Lenox and in Pittsfield. Attended Green Drinks, which is sponsored by the Center for Ecological Technology and by the Berkshire Environmental Action Team. Thanks, Tim and Mary, for volunteering to do some canvassing.

Sep 20: Canvassing in Stockbridge.

Sep 19: Enjoyed meeting fellow green and fellow Josh Billings bicyclist Dawn in Sheffield. Thanks for putting up a sign.

Sep 18: Thank you to whomever shouted out well-wishes from the street while I was grilling dinner on the patio. I appreciate your support, whoever you are!

Sep 17: Standout in Great Barrington 7:30-8:30 am. Thank you Nicole, Judy, Mark, Eddie, and Jason for joining me in greeting morning commuters. Later in the afternoon canvassing in Lenox. Met one of the founders of the Josh Billings Runaground Triathlon and we talked about last Sunday's event. Thanks, Ralph, for the kind words today.

Sep 16: Third Thursday in Pittsfield. (Rained out: Mark Miller and I would have been along the streets and sidewalks and sometimes at the Green-Rainbow Party table near the corner of Melville and North Streets.) Thank you, Ruby, for the silly bands.

Sep 15: Morning stand-out in Lee, afternoon canvassing in Lee. Testifying before and presenting a petition to the Lenox Select Committee in favor of bus shelters downtown (which passed - thanks to all supporters).

Scott, Jason, Darlene, and Donovan
Cell phone photo by Kate Baisley

Sep 14: Commented on a Boston Herald story about debate invitations, dis-invitations, and exclusions. Participated in a protest in Braintree at WBZ Radio studios, which excluded Jill Stein from an event that was called a debate between "the three [sic] candidates for governor." Accepted an invitation to debate from the Pittsfield Gazette and PCTV, which will take place on Oct 18 at Berkshire Community College at 6:00 pm.

Sep 13: Canvassed in Lenox. Met a few people who were at the Josh with me yesterday.

Sep 12: Participated in the Josh Billings Runaground Triathlon with fellow candidates Mark Miller and Rick Purcell and campaign volunteer Jason Dennis. Our team was named "Going for the Green 2010."

Sep 11: Attended the North Plain Farm pig roast in Great Barrington.

Sep 8: Visit to the farmers market at the Nutrition Center in Great Barrington.

Sep 7: Met with supporters and distributed signs in Tolland and Otis. Testified at the Lenox Historic District Commission meeting in favor of placing new bus shelters and schedules on Main Street. The application was accepted.

Sep 6: Training for the Josh Billings. Bicycled along the 27-mile route in 1 hr 45 minutes. Pretty decent result, I think.

Sep 2: Thanks, Jason and Judy, for arranging a meet 'n greet event at Firefly in Lenox. Thank you, also to the two Laura's and Aggy for the hospitality and treats. Enjoyed meeting Jon, Lisa Lisa, Kelson, Michael W., Rosella, Rebecca, Anaelisa, Kas, Michael Z., Eric, Wanda, Nicole, and others.

Sep 1: Canvassing in Great Barrington, where I'll stop by for Green Drinks in the evening.

Aug 31: Issued a press release about a group of Green-Rainbow candidates participating in the Josh Billings event. Met with a group of citizens interested in learning more about Co-Op Power, which many greens in other parts of the state are involved in. Thanks, John, for putting up a sign in Egremont.

Aug 30: Canvassing in Pittsfield and then observing the primary debates for 2nd District and the Sheriff races at Berkshire Community College. Talked with a Boston voter vacationing in Lenox who is planning to vote for Jill Stein.

Aug 28: Met with single payer health care supporters to help promote passage of Question 4, the policy question on the ballot in the 4th Berkshire District regarding health care reform.

Aug 27: Issued a response to a question from the Berkshire Eagle about why I am running for office.

Aug 26: Canvassing in Pittsfield. Looking forward to visiting Barbara's meditation bench. Thanks, Marc, for joining Nicole in assisting with the Facebook page. Enjoyed Doug Truth's performance on North Street, where I happened upon Besty from Mt. Washington also in the audience.

Aug 25: Canvassed in downtown Stockbridge and Great Barrington before bicycling the 26-mile Josh Billings course back to Lenox, via Great Barrington, Alford, West Stockbridge, and Stockbridge. Thanks for the water, Eve. Thanks for the apple, Mr. Deming. Nice, too, talking with Will and Susan about the Australian Greens Party advances and about cycling tips.

Aug 24: Canvassed in Lenox. Met Bob and Morgan while bicycle canvassing. Discussed winter farmers' markets with Becky, Andrea, Jenny, and Sharon.

Aug 21: Sent a letter to the Boston Globe on the subject of candidate debates.

Aug 20: Canvassing in Housatonic and in Sheffield, visits to two farmers' markets. Thank you, Trudy, for telling me about Mumbet Day. Thanks, Becky, for the crabapple recipes.

Aug 19: Third Thursday in Pittsfield. Mark Miller and I are with Green-Rainbow friends at the Green-Rainbow Party table near the intersection of Melville and North Street.

Aug 18: Published my cover letter to the NOFA/Mass Candidate Questionnaire. Canvassed in Stockbridge, Great Barrington, and Housatonic. Visited the farmers market at the Nutrition Center in Great Barrington. Pleasure meeting Phil, Andrea, Jane, Robert, and Carole, and randomly knocking on the door of Nicole, who manages my campaign's Facebook page. I never knew where you lived!

Aug 17: Responded to MA Gay and Lesbian Political Caucus questionnaire. The final question called for an open essay, which I cross-posted on a blog site.

Aug 16: In West Stockbridge - thanks, Kelly, for putting a sign out. Bicycle-canvassed in Lenox. Posted a comment on a blog post which lamented the lack of contested legislative seats in Massachusetts. Voters seem to like multi-partisanship.

Aug 13: Canvassing in Great Barrington and Sheffield. Thanks, Joan and Jim for the glasses of water offered at your respective homes. Thanks, Elizabeth, for the offer of a margarita. Also issued a statement on candidate debates.

Aug 11: Canvassing in Pittsfield. Thanks, Eugene and Charlie and Ron for putting up more signs! Thank you, Nicole, for starting a Facebook group for the campaign.

Aug 10: Thank you Lisa, Judy, Gracie, Fabrizio, Rosemary, and Mary Jane in Lenox; thank you Derek in Pittsfield; thank you Jay and Darlene in Lee; thank you Joanne in Egremont for being among the first to place yard signs out in support of my campaign!

Aug 5: Issued a statement on the policy question regarding single payer health care, which the Elections Division confirmed today will be on the ballot in the 4th Berkshire District. Met Shirley, Jeremiah, and Mark while canvassing in Lenox. Visited the vegetable garden at the high school.

Aug 3: Posted a statement on marijuana legalization.

Jul 30: Bicycle-canvassed in Egremont and in Sheffield. Met Brian and Kate, who showed me their solar panels. Rode across the Sheffield Covered Bridge as I circled back to the farmers' market in the early evening.

Jul 29: Canvassed in Lenox. Thanks, Ken, for helping to outfit the campaign bicycle. Thanks, Eric, for the design ideas.

Jul 28: Bicycle-canvassed in Otis and in Sandisfield. Went by my old house on Smith Rd. (Uninhabited and for sale now.) Re-connected with Darryl, Andrew, and Lorilei. Also invited Nick to join the Green-Rainbow Party. (Hope he does!) ... Answered a questionnaire from the Massachusetts Cannabis Reform Coalition. I'm in favor of legalization of marijuana. (Need to issue a statement soon ...)

Jul 27: Bicycle-canvassed in Stockbridge and met a few BRTA riders along the way. Issued a joint statement with Mark Miller in support of the Green-Rainbow Party position on pending foreclosure relief legislation. [Update: the house later today passed H 4585!]

Jul 26: Issued a statement about budget priorities.

Jul 22: Canvassed in Pittsfield and in Lee. Good conversations with Ann-Marie, Nick, and Sandra. Thanks, Didi, for putting up a sign in your window on Main Street!

Jul 20: Issued a statement wherein I elaborated further on my position on the Wind Energy Siting Reform Act. Met with Anaelisa from Lee.

Jul 17: Canvassed in Great Barrington and collected signature for Jill Stein's campaign with Darlene.

Jul 15: Joined Mark and Darlene in Pittsfield for Third Thursday, where we collectected signatures for Jill Stein and registered new members into the Green-Rainbow Party. Also had a good discussion with a couple of merchants in Lenox and a local farmer about Berkshares.

Jul 14: Took the BRTA bus to Pittsfield with my bicycle and canvassed around Ward 5B. Thanks, Susan Geller, for the photo!
                    

Jul 12: Canvassed in Lenox and in Stockbridge, during which time I talked with Phil and Linda about hospitality and tourism businesses. I knocked on a door that was then unexpectedly answered by Tom, whom I had never met in person, but with whom I had corresponded. Pleasant happenings like this abound while canvassing.

Jul 10: Tolland was green today. At the town's bicentennial celebration, I met a delegation from New Orleans that gave a dedication, two of whom had voted Green in the last election! Met Jay Mankita, from Amherst, who performs "Eat Like A Rainbow." Reconnected with Randy and Mike and other voters whom I've met while canvassing. Sylvia invited me to put my campaign card in the time capsule, which is being sealed today - to be opened in 50 years. The parade was fun and the company grand.

Jul 8: An important milestone is reached in making the case that biomass wood incineration is not a source of green, renewable energy. Posted a comment. Thanks, Karen, for being the first merchant in Lenox to put up a window poster - fresh from the printer.

Jul 7: Issued a statement on the 'Rainbow' that is in the party name. Also, today was the last day to collect signatures for the single payer health care ballot question. We turned petition sheets in to the town of Lenox and issued a statement on the health care question. Thanks to all signers and gatherers from around the district.

Jul 6: Canvassed in Great Barrington. Discussed Berkshares with Steffen.

Jul 5: Collected signatures for Jill Stein, Rick Purcell, and Nat Fortune at Pittsfield's Independence Day parade.

Jul 1: Canvassed in Lenox and in Pittsfield. Met up with a friend in Pittsfield, Mark, and learned that he lives in the part of Pittsfield that is in the 4th Berkshire District. Attended the opening reception at the Berkshire Museum (also in the 4th Berkshire District) for Joey Wheaton and Susan Rogers.

Jun 30: Canvassed in Stockbridge, New Marlborough, Great Barrington, and Lee. Met Charlie, a retired physician who was eager to vote on the ballot for both a single payer question and a green candidate. Registered a new voter in Lee.

Jun 29: Traveled to Boston with Susan and Dominick to hear Jill Stein speak at the Gubernatorial Forum on the Environment.

Jun 24: Speaking about public transportation as part of a Green Community at the Energy Forum at Lenox Town Hall.

Jun 23: Met with Jeff, Mark, and Wanda to collect signatures for Jill Stein and Nat Fortune at the Big Y market in Pittsfield. Welcomed Pamela and Joseph into the Green-Rainbow Party - they're now voters in the 4th Berkshire District. Canvassed in Great Barrington and happened to knock on Charlie's door.

Jun 21: Canvassed in Tolland and Chester, where I re-connected with Winnie, Pete, Mike, and Michelle, who showed me a brownfields site that could become a greenfields site and who also suggested an interesting idea for a public transportation route that would connect the BRTA and the PVTA. Discussed a windmill with Randy. Discussed Alzheimer's issues with Nancy, learning that MA ranks very low on service to patients. Discussed gun control with Stephen.

Jun 19: Speech before the Green-Rainbow Party regional convention in Pittsfield, where we welcomed Ron to the party and welcomed Darlene to the party's State Committee; attendance with Jill Stein and Mark Miller at "No Closet Required," the annual fund-raiser for the Berkshire Stonewall Community Coalition at Jae's Spice in Pittsfield.

Jun 18: Joint radio appearance on Good Morning Pittsfield with Jill Stein, meeting with C.E.T. in Pittsfield, meeting with downtown merchants and farmers market vendors in Lenox.

Jun 17: Campaigned with Jill Stein at The Nutrition Center in Great Barrington, the Alchemy Initiative in Pittsfield and also with Mark Miller at Third Thursday in Pittsfield.

Jun 16: Canvassed in Stockbridge, where I met a famous actress in her home. Canvassed in the neighborhood around The Nutrition Center's Farmer's Market in Great Barrington. Participated in the debut of Stone Soup, a collaboration of Berkshire Hills Regional School District, CHP-South Berkshire Community Coalition and Four Winds.

Jun 15: Canvassed in Lee and Pittsfield. Reconnected with Jaime, and enjoyed meeting Bob and Ted. Attended Green-Drinks in Pittsfield, which is sponsored by CET and BEAT.

Jun 14: Canvassed in Great Barrington. Enjoyed meeting Ruby, Nick in the pick-up truck, Michelle, and Barbara. Thanks, Helen, for the brownies, and welcome Selah to the Green-Rainbow Party!

Jun 10: Taped the television program, 'Spirit of the Berkshires,' Andrew Cort's program that will begin airing on June 15. Scott supports Democracy Days.

Jun 4: At the farmers' markets in Lenox and in Sheffield. Canvassing in Egremont.

Jun 3: Canvassing in Pittsfield.

Jun 2: Attending the Nutrition Center Farmer's Market opening ceremonies, canvassing a neighborhood, and attending Orion Magazine's Green Drinks in Great Barrington. Published a statement on the voting reform known as National Popular Vote, which the Massachusetts House is debating this week.

May 28: Visiting the Lenox Farmer's Market, canvassing in Sheffield, visiting the Sheffield Farmer's Market.

May 27: Scott attends the special Lenox town meeting.

May 26: Scott canvasses in Lee and in Lenox. Posts response to the front page story in the Berkshire Eagle about Tax Transparency.

May 25: Greeted voters at the Tolland town meeting and met the Tolland Select Committee and other officials. Canvassed along Colebrook River Rd. and introduced two young voters - ages 18 and 19 - to the Green-Rainbow Party. Started a discussion on Progressive Property Taxes.

May 23: Issued a statement on the release of 2009 tax returns

May 22: Meeting voters in Chester during the annual town celebration, "Chester On Track." Spent a very nice three hours at the festivities. Collected signatures for the "Medicare For All" ballot initiative. Met many voters who join me in opposition to the nearby Russell Biomass Plant. Met with current and former members of the Chester Select Committee.

May 21: Canvassing in Housatonic. Issue item posted on the Pittsfield Airport.

May 20: Participation at Third Thursday in Pittsfield at the Green-Rainbow Party table with Mark Miller and other party members from 5-8 pm. Registered voters into the Green-Rainbow Party, greeted voters from all over the county, including the 4th Berkshire District, thanked Rep. Bosley when he stopped by the table for his vote against casino development (which went against the wishes of his Democratic Party leadership), collected signatures for the "Medicare For All" ballot initiative, and collected nomination signatures for Jill Stein's gubernatorial candidacy. We will be at future Third Thursday events through October. Photo of Mark Miller and Scott courtesy of Susan Geller.

May 17: Canvassing in Lenox and Stockbridge.

May 14: Canvassing in Housatonic

May 13: Canvassing in Lee and in Otis

May 12: Tax Fairness issue item published

May 11: Canvassing in Mt. Washington and Alford. Had a discussion with a couple of Alford farmers about raw milk. (I support efforts to make it easier for consumers to buy raw milk.) Greeted voters as they arrived for the Alford Town Meeting.

May 9: Published issue item on Transparent Voting Records.

May 6: Attended Lenox town meeting, was joined in greeting voters by JD Hebert, who ran for Pittsfield City Council last year. My votes on the major warrants are revealed in a related blog.

May 3: Mark Miller, Jeff Turner, Nicole Wright, and I collectively greeted voters as they arrived at the Great Barrington, Sheffield, and West Stockbridge town meetings.

April 27, 5pm filing deadline:
I am joined at Pittsfield City Hall by Mark Miller, Green-Rainbow candidatefor 3rd Berkshire District. This date and time was the last opportunity for candidates to submit signatures to town and city offices for certification. (I collected over 400 certified signatures from all 18 towns and cities in the 4th Berkshire District, which was far more than needed to get on the ballot in November).