Year 2020
Election Year 2020… While it was a challenge with the pandemic and also losing the American Solidarity Presidential Primary, it nonetheless saw me continuing on as an independent presidential candidate. And, as in year’s past, had me juggling work (house painting and journalism), campaign position paper research, and on the road stumping – often, well, in a mask… The following are just a few examples of some brief vignettes from that year…
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I headed west into Convoy, Ohio one Friday night, where I stumped at Gibson Barnyard BBQ Restaurant. While there, I met with owner Thomas Gibson – who is also a Township Trustee. He told me that, yes, he takes pride in his restaurant, as he also takes pride in his community. I told him I’d do a blog entry about our conversation, and, if he was so inclined, I asked him to talk up our campaign.
On another Ohio campaign trip, one of the stops was Middle Point, Ohio, where I stumped at Fire House Pizza. After posting a campaign card on the bulletin board there, etc., I learned they call it “Middle Point” because it’s the “middle-point” between Chicago and Pittsburgh on the railroad line. And speaking of railroad lines, I also campaigned in North Baltimore, Ohio, also along this railroad line -- and the town has a big mural of, that’s right: a train to accentuate this.
In Cairo, Ohio, I came across a van load of Franciscan University students who were headed to Indiana to help facilitate a weekend spiritual retreat. I passed on some campaign cards, and told them my message was very much in line with the gospel message and Catholic Church teaching.
During this time, I also traveled to Delphos, Ohio, where I stumped at a diner there.
Reporting wise, among a number of stories, I wrote an article about a DARE presentation by some local law enforcement officers. It focused on “bullying,” a growing issue in our schools, they said.
Shortly after, I cloistered myself in the office for a while, writing some 40 “Nineveh Moments” essays, connecting the dots between current contemporary affairs in America, and a steep decline in spiritual values.
As summer rolled around, my son Jonathan and I did a number of outside house painting jobs. In addition, I continued on as the main reporter for two local town newspapers. And when I wasn’t doing all this, I was in the local college library doing more research for our position papers.
I also took advantage of the warmer months to go out campaigning some more, primarily on the weekends. For instance, one tour was down the Old Lincoln Highway in Ohio, where I stopped such small towns as Beaverdam, Gomer (at “Uncle Al’s Pizza”), Elida…
In early fall, Jonathan’s high school soccer team was starting to play around the region, and I’d combine trips to go see him play with yet more campaign stops along the way. Dual purpose.
During early fall, I was also reading a book about Winston Churchill that focused on him being the lone voice in Europe for several years – trying to warn people about the clandestine malevolence of Hitler, and this growing threat.
In a sense, what I say in the “Nineveh Moment” essays is somewhat akin. That is, trying to warn Americans about the looming danger of many of our lifestyle choices.
I stumped in Harrod, Ohio, including visiting this village’s rather impressive Military Park. There’s a full-size helicopter from the Vietnam era, a tank, a cannon, an anchor from a battle ship that fired the first shots of WWII… I’ve developed an extensive position paper on the military over the years.
During this time, I did a newspaper interview with a “Religious Life Group” at Ohio Northern University. These students were taking their Saturdays to solicit food for the local food pantry. Impressive.
On another weekend, I stumped at a “Pilot Travel Center” along I-75. I love these, because you can connect with people from all over the state, and the country for that matter.
During the year, I had also spent nights putting together a list of criteria to be an official write-in candidate in states across the country. The criteria is often different for each state. And sometimes even quite involved. By mid-fall, it was becoming clear that I wouldn’t even be a write-in in most states.
Yet I’ve never been one to quit. So, I soldiered on.
I campaigned in Tiffin, Ohio, passing out campaign cards. I did a newspaper interview about Mennonite Disaster Services. They go all over the world helping people rebuild after natural disasters. And I covered yet more local village council meetings. Our platform calls for much more “decentralism,” which is transferring more of the decision-making power back into local hands.
Again, all the latter was just a brief cross section of things from 2020, including…
On November 3, 2020, I lost -- again.
