Dear Abby,
I'm a city council member in a West Coast city. I just sent this really self-destructive letter to a local labor leader. I wrote all this contradictory stuff, Abby, and I think I may have jeopardized my political future!
In the letter I said I only endorsed our new mayor because labor told me to, and that I only voted for a $6 million developer handout because labor originally told me to. But I also said I won't do whatever labor tells me to do! So I voted for the handout when it came up a second time, even though labor told me not to. (Do you follow, Abby?) I also accused labor of threatening me, and said I don't give in to threats. But then I also admitted in the letter that I voted for the handout because the developer threatened to sue!
If you can't believe I said all this contradictory stuff, you can read my letter at: www.thestranger.com/current/news/laborletter.html
Then I leaked the letter to the press! Everyone saw it. The mayor, labor, the developer, everybody! Luckily the mainstream papers support the developer handout, so they downplayed how kooky my letter was. But I can't shake the feeling I may have alienated my labor/lefty base. When I showed up at this lefty wonk birthday party in Ravenna last Saturday evening, July 26, I could tell everyone was making fun of me behind my back.
Finally, Abby, my letter went on about a woman who might run against me. I think the letter made it pretty clear how nervous and defensive and vulnerable I am. Even if that woman isn't going to run against me, I'm sure a whole bunch of other people (like the people at that birthday party) are thinking about it.
Abby, I'm a mess. What can I do to regain my footing?
Imploding in Seattle
P.S. Please don't print this letter!
Dear Imploding in Seattle,
I don't respond to people personally, dear, but I really did want to give you some advice. I hope you don't mind that I decided to print your letter.
My first thought was, "How did this fruitcake get elected in the first place?" I don't mean that as an insult, dear. It's the kernel of my advice: How did you get elected in the first place? In your letter you mention a labor/lefty base. If you're concerned about your reelection, dear, you should tend to your base.
P.S. By the way, Ms. Nicastro, a little bird sent me a copy of another letter you sent out--a July 26 e-mail to Deputy Mayor Tim Ceis where you discuss your prickly relationship with the mayor's office. The letter is quite defensive (www.thestranger.com/current/news/ceisletter.html). And CCing it to your fellow council members tells me you've got some problems with passive-aggressive behavior. Please seek counseling.
