Stephen Yellin for Council, Version 2.0

by: Stephen Yellin

Mon Mar 28, 2011 at 08:45:54 AM EDT

Hi all,

Last year, when I decided to run for Township Council, I neglected to inform my friends here at Blue Jersey about my decision. Poor Rosi had to break the news herself after the press wrote about my entry.

Not this time.

I put up my press release on the Internet last night, and Blue Jersey is the first to hear from me directly. I'm running again for Berkeley Heights Township Council, and I've learned from last time what it takes to win.

http://thealternativepress.com...

First off, thanks to everyone who offered their support to me last year. I hope I will be able to count on your help and goodwill this cycle as well!

Secondly, here's a few things I learned from last time that will make me a better candidate:

1) Meeting voters matters. While I personally knocked on over 1500 doors last year, many doors were left behind without actually meeting my would-be constituents. I will be going back this time - and back again after that if need be - to make sure I can convince the residents of Berkeley Heights to give me their support.

2) House events matter. While we held fundraisers for my campaign last year, there was only 1 free event (with Dick Codey), and it was poorly timed. Not only am I going to have a kickoff event in May (you're all invited), but I intend to hold "coffees" at the houses of supporters. As my campaign last year brought a lot of new volunteers to the Democratic Party in Berkeley Heights, this is now a possibility.

3) Ideas matter. While the Republican tide in Berkeley Heights was too strong to overcome, many residents came up to me after the League of Women Voters' debate I participated in - including Republicans - to tell me that I earned their vote. I did so by offering concrete, tangible proposals to move my community forward. Soundbites matter, but so do new ideas in a town like Berkeley Heights. I will be building on my new-found knowledge of my community to propose new initiatives.

Last year, I earned 1,210 votes as a first-time, young, unapologetic Democratic candidate for Council. I did this in the teeth of a Republican tide and a splintering of the Democratic vote by a 3rd-party ticket. With the experience I have gained and the supporters I have come to know, I intend to come out on top this time around.

I will have a running mate this year as well - I hope to announce who they are before the April 11th deadline.

Thanks for reading!