Archive for August, 2009

Last week I went to the Beer Summit mixer at the Fly Trap Music Hall. I believe it went well and was a fair event. Everyone was able to ask the candidates who were there (Dewey Bartlett left before I got there, I arrived 8-10 minutes after the start of the event) all sorts of questions, and I enjoyed listening in on the dialogue. At one point during the event as I was wandering through the room searching for a discussion to listen to, I made small mistake.

I made eye contact with someone, when I knew I should have been looking at the floor.

See, as I walked through the room I would often take a surveillance of the people that were in attendance. And, out of all of them there was generally one type of person that I would try to avoid – the enthusiastic, overly happy, and slightly annoying campaign volunteer guy, which on this occasion I happened to lock eyes with. As soon as we locked eyes, he smiled politely and then he slapped the campaign push cards in his right hand against his left palm (as if it were to motivate himself for a speech), and then headed straight towards me.

When he (John) came over I decided to start the conversation by asking him about his candidate-Nathaniel Booth, after seeing that is who was on the campaign fliers in his hand. My first question was something like, “Are you really supporting him?” or, “do you really think he has a chance?” I was surprised by the honesty and readiness of his answer and was prompted to ask a few more questions.

I talked to John, the campaign manager, for the next 10 minutes about all my thoughts on Nathaniel Booth running for mayor. Mainly, I wanted to know why he would support an 18 year old who does not have much life experience, or work experience. John gave me direct answers. Answers that I respected because they seemed to be well thought out, although they were not in agreement with what I’d like to see in a mayor.

The conversation pretty much ended there, he believing in his candidate’s ability to lead Tulsa as mayor, and me believing otherwise.

(Fast forward 3 days after the Beer Summit)

Three days after the Beer summit I was at Lafortune Park enjoying my recreational time with family and friends. Everyone was having a good time eating barbecue, talking, and listening to some music from my laptop. After some time at the park, I got up to change the music on my laptop, and while walking to my computer I heard a familiar voice yelling out, “I like that song!” As I look over to see who is admiring my music, I see that it is John and his buddy Nathaniel Booth (in a suit on a hot day, no less) campaigning at Lafortune Park.

I politely asked them how they were doing in their campaigning and they seemed very pleased in their efforts for the day. I then asked them how many voters they thought they had, they replied “we are doing really good!” So I replied with a high number hoping to get their estimation, “10,000 or 11,000?”  They just nodded their heads – not affirming or denying the amount, but insinuating they have a place in the mayor’s race as they smiled confidently saying, “we are doing really good, we feel we have a chance.” We had casual chitchat for several more minutes and then they were on their way for more campaigning before it got dark.

Below you will find a youtube video on Nathaniel Booth. He is being interviewed by John Erling about some of his thoughts on being a Mayor. I decided to write this post and plug this video because I’ve enjoyed my short interactions with the 18 year old kid. I really don’t think he has a chance (but what do I know), but maybe in a few years when he’s lived more of his life and has learned a few more things.

At any rate, here is the interview. What are you thoughts on him?