Happy birthday to plan commission member:

[murielm99]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEVE_3V9Cq0

This is my son being wished a happy birthday by one of the Naperville city council members. Contrary to the way it looks, he did look up from his laptop and thank the man who wished him a happy birthday. My son actually did a lot to get this guy, a fellow Democrat, elected to the city council.

My son Tim was appointed to the plan commission a couple of years ago. He was the youngest member ever. They like to tease him about his age. He is turning thirty in a few days.

I am proud that all my kids are involved in politics in some hands-on way.

[mopinko]

1. ya done good muriel.

how is he getting along?

[murielm99]

3. He's getting along well.

He has seen the ups and downs of politics. He saw the crap I went through until I was ousted as county chair. He knows I will get back into politics in a positive way. I am just waiting for the right thing.

He has friends on the city council. The mayor, although he is a Republican, likes my son. The papers love him, and so do the unions.

He has had some knocks. Some people there did not like it when he was appointed, because he is a Democrat. Some did not like it because he is young. He was criticized for not owning property, but he now owns a home there. And, I posted about the bullying the plan commission is taking over the proposed construction of an Islamic worship center. There were even people who called him to find out whether or not he is pro-choice! As if the plan commission has anything to do with reproductive health services!

Sometimes I think local politics is the nastiest politics of all. But no one in my family is immune from activism. My parents were election judges for forty-nine years. I just went to my forty-fifth high school reunion. Some of the people from those days still remember me as the girl who went door to door for candidates, even though I wasn't old enough to vote.

Look at what happens if we don't involve ourselves. We get the teabaggers. I expect my family will keep our hands in, even if it is only in a small way, until we can't any more. My parents did not quit until my dad developed dementia. My mother still asks for signs in the yard, even though that is all she can do for now.

[cate94]

2. Hope your son had a happy day.

I used to work for the City back when Pradel was a cop. :)

[madrchsod]

4. cool......!

[tropicanarose]

5. Excellent--you indeed should be proud =)