Some People Like Me

I had yet another experience that leads me to believe that I may be way too naive to be a "politician". A man recently approached me at a political event and told me how I needed someone in his part of town to help put up signs and get my name out to help me get votes there. He said he would love to help me. I really appreciated this of course and was glad to take him up on his offer. Well, that is until he started telling me how much it would cost to buy his help and support. I started cracking up and told him "thanks anyway!" I can't imagine that I would have to pay someone to help with my campaign.

Luckily, I have friends and supporters in his part of town who are helping me because they know I will be a great judge. I haven't had to pay them a thing, although I did buy one a cheeseburger one night after a long day of sign planting.

I am amazed to learn that several of the candidates are paying people to do this work for them. It is crazy! In my humble opinion, this is the reason we don't have more good candidates. I am not the candidate who has raised the most money and I think I have done quite well with what I have raised. But, there is no way I could be as successful as I have been without my good friends and family members who spend their time and energy helping me for nothing in return but my undying love and gratefulness.

Frankly, I do quite a bit of this on my own as well. Someone commented to me the other day that they saw me on the side of the road nailing fence posts into someone's yard for one of my big signs. They were amazed that someone like me would be out there putting up my own sign. I am not sure what he meant by "someone like me." It needed to be done, it was close to my house and I am quite able-bodied, so I did it. I have had people email me and ask if it will really be me who replies to their message or one of my staff. I have had voice mails where someone has said, "This message is for Allyson or whomever returns her messages." I am the only one who responds to messages left for or sent to me. If someone will take the time and expend the energy to reach out and contact me, he or she deserves a response from me.

The fact is that my volunteers are working themselves to death to help me. It would not be "like me" at all to sit back and do nothing or act like the untouchable superstar candidate while they are out doing the dirty work. I personally write a thank you note to everyone who gives a campaign contribution or offers some special support. I think it is the least I can do for someone who is helping me reach my goals.

The reason our leaders are not more in touch with the regular person on the street is because common people, like me, can't afford to run for office when everyone seems to have a hand out, expecting something in return for their support. I don't have tens of thousands of dollars to spend on television commercials and glossy county-wide mailings. I don't have the money and power that some of my opponents do to coerce support and endorsements even when not the best candidate. I will do the best I can with what I have (as usual) but it has been said to me that whomever has the most money to buy the race will win. If I have to buy the race to win, then I don't want to win. If I can't win on my own merit, then I don't want to win. If I have to sell my soul to the highest bidder to win, then I don't want to win. If I have to be hard working, accessible, ethical and true to my heart to win, then I WILL WIN.

As a judge, I will have to deal with people who are facing eviction, who may not know from where their next meal will come or how their babies will get medicine or other necessities. I am always sad in criminal court when I see a person charged with shoplifting things like deodorant, diapers, or other basic things we take for granted. It happens more than you would think.

How is someone who has never had to work hard, who is too good to stand on the side of the road and put up her own yard signs, going to identify with a person in court like those I have described? It is really no wonder that the public feels like the Judiciary doesn't identify with them.

I am someone who does. Don't get me wrong, I have been very blessed and given many opportunities that others have not. But I grew up in a home with a single mom and two older brothers. There were times my mom sat at the table but didn't eat dinner with us. At the time, I thought it was because she was on a diet. I later learned it was because she wanted to make sure her babies ate first and if there was enough, she would eat second. She had to work an extra job many times just to be sure we all had what we needed and that we could be involved in piano lessons , sports and all the other opportunities we enjoyed. She went to school at night so that she could get a degree and make a better life for us. She eventually did graduate and things were better financially. I do not want to give the impression that my dad wasn't around or didn't help support me. He did and was a good dad who met his responsibilities and more.

My point is simply that people have hard times. Life isn't always golf games and private school. Some people, like me, get student loans and are still buried in them years later. Some people, like me, are working jobs that keep them living from month to month, hoping the roof doesn't leak or some other disaster that will cause financial shortfalls for months. Some people, like me, are worrying about pay cuts and lay-offs. Some people, like me, have to decide what to spend money on each month in order to be sure the checking account isn't overdrawn. Some people, like me, work an extra job at Christmas to be sure they can buy a present or two.

I understand that regular people work hard and want to be respected for their work ethic more than their bank accounts. I know that as a judge, I will be able to understand and identify with the public who stands before me. I believe that people should work hard and make their way in this world like I and my parents have done.

Some people believe that he who has the money owns the world. Some people believe they can bully and threaten and throw their influence around to achieve what they want. After all, that is much easier than working hard or achieving things on your own merit. Some people believe that they can lie or shade the truth to pretend that they are something they are not. Some people believe that they are entitled to something just because of who they are.

But, some people, like me, are tired of these people ruling the world. Some people, like me, are going to make sure that these people don't rule the world. Some people, like me, are going to vote on May 20th and hope our voices are heard and that change occurs. Some people, like me, hope the Judiciary will become more fair and consider merit, character and facts more than socio-economic status, political and personal ties, or wealth when deciding cases. Some people, like me, are hoping that the electorate will research the candidates and not just vote for the one with the most commercials or yard signs. Some people, like me, hope that things will be different this time.

If you are someone like me and agree with me, then vote for the best candidate... someone like me! When the Opportunity Knocks, Vote Allyson Cox!

Happy Mother's Day Mom! Thanks for all the sacrifices you made for me and the boys and the sacrifices you still make. Thanks for raising me to be the hard working, compassionate, fair-minded and honest person that I am... someone like you! I love you!