3/24/2008
Oh the naivete of youth
Jon Gabrielson is a candidate for mayor of Appleton. Officially registered as a write-in, Gabrielson is running because “it’s unfair for the voters of the city that no one else stepped up” to oppose the mayor of the sixth largest city in Wisconsin.
I’m not sure I agree with Gabrielson’s politics, but I surely agree with him 100% that Mayor Hanna needs an opponent. And that the city needs a new mayor.
Gabrielson is a senior at Appleton East and a pretty self-assured young man. His platform is to “do good things.” When I kindly mentioned that probably wasn’t exactly a rallying call for a winning campaign, he got a little more specific.
- The city doesn’t “need anything unnecessary.” Hurray for that!
- The city must be as “prosperous as possible.”
- He would admit mistakes. Now that would be a change – hallelujah!
- He would use “fairly good judgment.”
Unsolicited (!), Gabrielson commented that the Appleton water plant was handled poorly. (Did he know he was speaking to the choir?) He would review the situation, “look for more facts.” It would be important for the mayor to be informed. Were he mayor, he wouldn’t “want to be left out” of decisions.
I asked this likeable high school student how he thought he would manage department directors the age of his parents and grandparents. Without a moment’s delay, the young man said he would sit down and set up a meeting. He would encourage hearing any ways to improve and would do his best to represent Appleton residents.
Gabrielson has made a “bunch of campaign buttons”, is handing them out to friends and was poised to begin knocking on doors last week. Being the hardened campaign pro, I asked him how he’s decided which doors he would be knocking on.
The novice campaigner’s original plans were to begin in areas where friends lived (and could be influential), and then to campaign up and down College Avenue as well.
I offered my $150/hour consult, gratis. Call the Elections Board, get them a check (no credit cards – how stupid; but the guy at the desk is really great and helpful), get the city voter list spreadsheet and get to work sorting it to find the “February and April” voters (it will, of course, be a low turnout election). And don’t believe a single person who assures you he will vote if he’s voted only when public and press furor registers above a level of great tumultuousness. Well worth the money he paid me!
I don’t know if life experiences will be included on Gabrielson’s campaign brochure (or even if he will produce one!), but if they are, it would be chock full of high school-type stuff. He attends church “occasionally” and carries about a 3.5 GPA.
Gabrielson is a(n):
- member of the Marching Band.
- producer of announcements at East.
- writer for the school newspaper.
- actor in many plays and musicals.
- guitar player in the pit orchestra for this spring’s musical.
- member of assorted pop bands he puts together now and again.
When forced, Gabrielson would identify himself most closely with the Democratic Party. (It’s a good thing this is a non-partisan election, Jon!) His interest in elective office and governing comes from an AP U.S. Government and Politics class; Gabrielson also enjoyed being George Washington in a classroom mock Constitutional Convention and debating in a competitive Student Congress.
If Gabrielson is not successful in his write-in effort to become Appleton’s mayor, he will pursue a career in journalism and/or film at UW Milwaukee.
Jon Gabrielson was a classmate of our son, has been in our home in years past and we’ve done the typical car-pooling to high school events now and again. I can’t say I know him well, but it seems he’s an industrious, talented young man. He may have my vote – or I will write in the name of Jim Clemons, currently the Alderperson in District 13. I encourage you to do the same.
COMMENTS
What a heroic young man! Charge!!
Brian Heyer (Mon Mar 24 09:58:02 2008)
He's got my vote. I'll write down his name on a piece of paper and bring it to the polls.
I love it. We agree on something! JE
Stephen Flynn (Mon Mar 24 17:58:05 2008)
As much as I'd like to see a Jesse Ventura or Putney Swope candidacy here in Appleton (one in which everybody votes for the candidate because they thought nobody else would,) such a candidacy raises many questions. There is no ideological stance that I can discern from what was said.
Even though Dennis Kucinich was the youngest mayor in Cleveland, he was in his 20's as I recall.
Who represents me in this candidacy? Surely the candidate would seek advice from the likes of his neighbors such as those who consult and present Fox Politics. And from the suburban milieu of McMansions no doubt and fresh from a virtually all white secondary school.
I'll not get into all the stereotypes of youth laid on top of that.
What is disheartening is that there is not a progressive adult man or woman standing that is taking on the civil obligation of opposing viewpoints to the status quo.
Lon Ponschock (Mon Mar 24 21:31:27 2008)
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