Primary Voting in the Heat

Maybe I am a political joke and maybe I am befitting of the look given to a nerd that my wife gave me when I told her I was excited about casting my first electronic ballot; but I am excited.

This morning I voted at the church on Park and South 10^th in the Democratic Primary after working a few hours in the cab on a Board of Elections account taking poll workers to their respective stations. Most of the workers came from the projects on the near north side or directly from the Board of elections and were going to south side polling stations. At any rate, due to the long rides we had the chance to talk a lot about politics.

Election days, even primaries, are special to me, almost like holidays. In a world where many cannot vote and were many who do vote are pawns in sham elections I value the voting system we have in this country. I try my best to never miss an election and I have only missed a handful since I was 18 (when I voted in the 1992 Presidential election for Bill Clinton in my first vote).

On today’s ballot there were only a couple of close races. Rodney Hubbard, the candidate I support for State Senate and a man who has a bright political future, has a challenge from Robin Wright-Jones who was backed by the teachers union and some other yuppie elements. Be that as it may Rodney has the support of the people and when I heard him on 104.1 yesterday doing his thing I said this is the future of St. Louis politics. Rodney Hubbard, bringing the hip-hop generation to the State Senate. I can also say that I have ran into so many people over the last week or two who told me they grew up with Rodney and have known him their whole lives and that he is a man that moves amongst the people which is rare amongst politicians.

I also voted for Tisharu Jones (I think that’s how you spell her name), Andrea Simckes for state treasurer as I feel she represents the exciting new generation of local public servants, and Chris Koster for Attorney General as I feel he can mount the best general election campaign.

One interesting note; this morning I talked to a black woman from the north side who told me she hated going to southwest St. Louis because she could feel the racism in the air. Before talking to her I talked to a very blue-collar white man who is also a Vietnam veteran and he told me he hadn’t voted in years but was planning on voting for Obama. Will men like him bring about a change not only in Washington but in St. Louis?