Campaign Profiles "A Candidate's Weekend"

The question I hoped to answer is relevant to any City candidate for office: What drives these people? All the candidates this year are uniformly successful businesspeople, attorneys and professionals. Why would they expose themselves and their families to vicious vilification in the blogosphere, being called out in public debates and sometimes distortion and outright falsehoods in their opponent's campaign literature?

Certainly, it's not the money - Commissioners in Saratoga Springs are paid a yearly salary that in practice rivals the hourly wage of a migrant worker! All deserve our respect for putting it on the line. Agree or disagree, they all have mine.

Even though we are a high-tech society, in Saratoga Springs the effective campaigning is as it always was: face-to-face, door-to-door, burning shoe leather. With an Independent candidate particularly, there's no machine: no army of people to lick envelopes and do telephone surveys.

Saturday - October 24

The day for Mr. Miller actually begins quite early, about 7 a.m. today, at Barn 73 at the Saratoga Race Course. Ed is a horse trainer, and so he overlays a political campaign on top of an already long day.

After that, the gloomy morning turns darker as Miller focuses on the next neighborhood to canvas. This time it's on the south side, a development of newish homes called "The Village" off of Crescent Street. Young professional families; property taxes are a key issue here. Miller's message of cleansing waste and patronage from the public works budget resonates well. And people know his name; that doesn't seem an issue anymore after weeks of walking neighborhoods at a breakneck pace.

Next, it's off to the farmers market around noon. Woody Allen once said "90 percent of life is just showing up."

We're here to see Mayor Johnson join 1,000 other cities by signing the U.S. Mayor's Climate Protection Agreement. Many office-holders here; past and present. A decent cross-section of candidates too. Miller makes a point to go up to Mayor Johnson after the signing. They had a private conversation which I heard but feel should rightfully remain that way. But it was obvious that they enjoyed talking to each other.

It was during the signing though, that Ed Miller had his "90 percent" moment. Instinctively, he circled the crowd to be prominent in the photo of Johnson signing. When it was snapped, he was right down front.

The day's half done, but we've got plenty more to do.

Geyser Crest. The skies open up, an unrelenting torrent of soak. We came here knowing that it was going to be like this the whole rest of the day. I'm seeing game called on account of rain.

But like a sales rep armed with the knowledge that the best time to see the owner alone in his shop is during a blizzard, Miller psyches himself up: "Some people watch it happen, and wonder what happened. Other people make it happen."

He bolts out of his pickup truck, a fistful of door-hangers tucked into his jacket! I don't believe what I'm seeing, but I'm off into the monsoon as well. My thoughts could be capsulated in a derivative of "darn."

 I'll never again question the lengths to which politicians go to reach you, dear voter. And think about this when it's a little cold on Election Day and you don't 'feel like it.' Regardless of who you like, please VOTE! We risked pneumonia for your inalienable right to do so.

It's not too bad in one respect; lots of people give him credit for coming out on a day like this. Ed recites his litany of issues: Fairness, fiscal responsibility, his love of his City. He gets some good give-and-take with some, jokingly promising to "end rain in the City on Saturdays."

Miller knocks on every door- regardless of the signs out front. Even his opponent's. Ultimately, in a small town, this is going to happen:

"Hey, you're running against my dad!"

Oh boy, here we go, I think. But this isn't a puff piece; I report what I see. And while I doubt Miller changed that resident's mind, he did stay and chat, and ended up shaking hands with the guy!

We walk down to the next house; he says to me with a wink: "So tell me, you think I've got a shot?"

After 3 hours of this, we're soaked to the bone. It seems it's a requirement in the Crest for every home to have a BIG BARKING DOG, but still we trudge on through what must be a beautiful neighborhood on a sunny day.

Finally, it starts to get darker; we retreat to a nearby coffee shop to warm up. I'm a trooper, but I've had it.

I go home to a hot bath, but Ed goes to work with his horse. The end of a long day. But just for me.

Sunday, October 25

Merciful, sunshine! We start right after noon. An older, middle-class neighborhood in the Southeast area of the City, around White and Clark Streets. It's called district 12 by someone who should know.

With us is Ms. Jane Weihe, a NY State Democratic Committee member, and a former City Committee member. There is no Democratic-endorsed candidate for the Public Works position this year. I asked Jane why she was introducing Miller to people she knew:

"It's one of the most important departments in the city...We need someone in charge who is honest, intelligent, and independent; who can manage the department's resources in challenging  times. That's Eddy." 

This is Jane's neighborhood, and she seems to know everyone.

Back to the barn for about a half-hour of horse stuff, then later in the afternoon, we head to the Union Grille Restaurant where Supervisor Joanne Yepsen and former Mayor Ken Klotz are hosting a reception for Fourth Judicial District Democratic candidates Judge Barry Kramer and Brian Stewart. It's more of a listening and networking opportunity than a campaigning one for Miller, but important nonetheless.

(On Tuesday a letter appears from Ken and Karen Klotz, Democrats endorsing Miller, Independent.)

After, i'm hoping he doesn't notice, but not a chance: "Hey, there's still an hour of daylight!" Off to Clinton Street we go.

By now I'm used to his routine of knocking on every door, leaving a door-hanger when no one is home, talking to anyone who does answer about the issues, and always asking for their vote on November 3.

It's impossible to gauge how many votes were earned over the weekend; how many minds might have been persuaded, and goodness knows I have no idea as to whether Edward Miller will unseat his opponent and win the election. I know that if effort counts for anything, he'll gather a lot more votes on the Independence Party line than anyone in the city's history; and perhaps, a lot more.

Sunday night, about ten p.m. and Edward Miller is at his dining room table, hand signing from a stack that once was 2700 letters.

I ask if that's really the best use of a candidate's precious time. Particularly this one, who's going it virtually alone.

He flips a letter over, and runs his hand over the back. "Look at this." Ed says "I always check this. Did they or some machine sign it?"

He gets a serious look on his face. The most serious I've seen him in the two days we were together. "If I'm going ask a person for their vote, the least I can do is sign the letter."

Ed Miller brightens up and smiles. "Besides, only 450 left to go!"