A Final Message from a Campaign Manager

With 6000 votes, or 21% of all votes cast, Sean came in second place. It was a tense night, Ward 4 was the last to come in, and we stayed till 2am for the last polls to roll in. I would like to thank everyone that came out to support Sean last night. It was a great campaign, and a great experience.

We had lots of people pop in an out that night, all wishing their best for Sean. Big thanks to all are phone callers; we crammed people into every corner, office, and seat we could. As well, a big thanks to all the MLA’s, Alderman, and supporters that came by to say good luck to Sean.

We ran a good, positive campaign and fought hard.

I would like to congratulate Gael Macleod for being elected the new Alderman of Ward 4. You were a good competitor.

I wish Naheed Nenshi good luck as our new Mayor, the positive change that he wants to see in Calgary, is what Sean’s message of “Making A Difference…Together” was all about. I have learned on this campaign that it is about the character of the candidate, not which party membership they hold. Sean showed that, he had the ability to bring people of all stripes, of every mayoral campaign, and of every party membership to support him, a rarity in politics.

As well, I wish to give congrats to the Aldermanic candidates that we have been rooting for these past few months. You have been true friends to Sean and the campaign, thank you for your support, and we have been promoting you, and your message to voters.

I want to thank Calgarian’s who voted in such high numbers. I knew the election turnout would spike, but when Ward 4 results were the last to come in, and with the reports of line ups, confusion as to where to vote, I knew that all bets are off, and that we were in for a long night.

The campaign came to an end last night at 2am with an emotional hug between Sean and I, in a cold parking lot as the core group of supporters decided to call it a night. Thank you to Andrew Chin our Official Agent, my Dad for helping us on the campaign, Marc for being there for me these past couple of months, and Sean who has been an inspiration to work with.

Thank you to everyone that has supported Sean these past 7 months, your calls of support are truly appreciated.

I wish that all Calgarian’s would see the other side of politics. It is not the negative image that is portrayed. I love politics because with the right candidate, and a dedicated campaign team, great things can be accomplished.

While the rhetoric is strong in the media, and everyone has an opinion. One should see campaigns as something that is a symbol of people coming together to sacrifice their time, money, and for campaign mangers their jobs, and sanity. When the Election comes, win or lose, they are the first to break.

People saw Ric McIver last night trying to keep his emotions contained, and when Higgins conceded I knew a friend of mine, who was on her campaign team, was in the background trying to contain his emotions, and to me that is what politics is about. It is a competition of ideas, and one needs the passion to see an idea made reality. The composure to keep it together is representative of the time, energy, and near the end the lack of sleep and health. The ability to keep ones emotions contained is a true strength, and McIver, Higgins, and those Aldermanic candidates that we have been supporting that did not succeed last night, you have mine and Sean’s respect. It has been a privilege working with so many different campaigns.

Our 7 month journey ended last night, with Sean’s name on pieces of paper, stuffed in a ballot box. If only people could see what went behind that little slip of paper. They will see that democracy is more than an X on a piece of paper but a combined effort of hundreds of people, who see politics as the art of the possible, and government as the art of compromise.

Thank you to everyone that has supported Sean on his campaign. We will meet again.

Dustin

3 Comments for this entry

• 

  pam

  October 20th, 2010 on 9:21 am

  Beautifully said. You are an amazing man Dustin, it was an honor to get to meet you on a personal level & volunteer with you & Sean throughout the past few months.

  Though you did not win the campaign for Alderman of Ward 4, you won the respect of so many people, myself included, for being such a great manager with an honest & decent campaign. Even when you had the information, the proof & many chances to stoop to the opposition’s level, not once did you……..you are a good man & that showed through the campaign time & time again.

  Thank you once more.
• 

  lynne

  October 20th, 2010 on 10:07 am

  I don’t think I can improve on what Pam said…it was wonderful to work with you and Sean on this journey. I would support any future campaign that you and/or Sean was a part of.
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  custom house builders

  March 29th, 2011 on 10:21 pm

  It was an honor to get to meet you on a personal level & volunteer with you & Sean throughout the past few months.