Trained Activists Hold Their City Council Accountable

It has now been a week since Arkansas’  filing deadline has passed, and a lot of things are just beginning to sink in.  For instance, there are 71 (and counting) American Majority alumni who are candidates for office.  A state legislator of ours here in central Arkansas said to me, “conservatives are coming out of the woodwork to run for office; this is all due to the work American Majority has been doing….” What a humbling statement to make for our small staff of 2!  We have been enjoying an incredible ride and are excited to see the fruits of our labor.

Not only are the candidates trained and ready to go, but the activists are inspiring watchdogs for their own communities.  Recently, the Faulkner County Tea Party was made aware of a nearly $5 million shortfall in the Conway city council budget…..money that was there one day, and disappeared the next!  What do you think our American Majority alums from the area did?  They have been attending every city council meeting, sending out press releases to the media, contacting their mayor for answers, calling into radio shows with questions, writing letters to the editor and blogging like crazy.  Now, to give those responsible for the monetary loss the benefit of the doubt, it seems to be an innocent mismanagement of funds.  However, that type of leadership is not to be excused anymore by the citizens of Conway.

I think it is fair to say, that the citizen activists who have attended our trainings over the last year have been inspired.  Not necessarily by our winning personalities or our eloquent words…..but I hope by our passion and joy for the job that we love.  It has been such a pleasure to visit with these folks, many of whom have never been involved in the political process, other than fulfilling their American duty and privilege by casting their ballot on Election Day.  Now, some of those ordinary, patriotic citizens are hearing the call to serve their community by running for office.  Not all are running for high profile positions, because they have realized that there is plenty of work to be done in their own town.

For those citizen activists who prefer to remain behind the scenes this time around, many are pledging to volunteer for their favorite candidate(s).  Already, one of our alumni was introduced recently as the Arkansas Conservative Women Coalition Chair for a US Senate candidate.   I felt like a proud Mom as I tweeted her new position to all my friends in the Twitter-Universe.  Others would rather keep a close eye on their elected officials from school board members all the way up.  As our field director, Laurie, often states, “how can your elected representatives know how to govern if you don’t tell them?  It would make things so much easier for them! They aren’t mind readers!”

I think they are getting the picture.