Wellstone Action!

posted by Jen Haut

AUGUST 22, 2008

This past weekend in Albuquerque, the buzz was generating around a certain presidential candidate who was heading into town.  At Wellstone Action we wouldn't disagree that this presidential election year is exciting, but for us, this work continues presidential year or not, which is why our New Mexico Camp Wellstone training was the real buzz circulating.

For Wellstone Action, this was a return trip to Albuquerque after a successful Advanced Campaign Management and Candidate School this past winter.  In partnership with the Center for Civic Action, close to 40 candidates, campaign managers, and volunteers were trained.

We may not have rubbed shoulders with the possible next president, but we met Carl Zaragoza, a former teacher in the Teach for America program, running for school board in Phoenix.  And Ellen Wedum, who "should be retired" as she put it, but hasn't let her activism stop her in pursuit of state representative in Cloudcroft, New Mexico.  There was also Michelle Beltran and Shannon Steffes, thinking of running for school boards in the future, and Eldred Bowekaty, who has his sights set on governor of the Zuni Tribe in 2010, as well as a handful of other potential candidates. 

Camp Wellstone was rounded out with two dozen or so campaign workers, volunteers, and folks interested in making their community better.  They gathered from across New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, and even New York and Pennsylvania.  And they came to make sure their candidate takes office next year, because they want to effectively organize on campus or work with youth, and to take action on issues affecting their lives in the southwest. 

For two long, jam-packed days, participants dove into working on campaign plans and setting budgets, creating fundraising goals, writing effective phone scripts, talking about a winning message, and writing stump speeches (some of the best, by the way).

Sure, we'll be paying attention to the presidential nominee on November 4^th, too, but we'll also be watching out for Carl and Ellen as well as thousands of other candidates we've trained over the years.  We'll be keeping our fingers crossed for the other potential candidates, like Shannon, who told us, "I never would have imagined actually going through with a campaign for elected office.  Now I am inspired and I believe this is something that I can do."  We believe she can, too.