I’m pretty sure that in its endorsement this morning, the DDN got it wrong, when it wrote, “Democrats’ best bet is Joe Roberts.”

There are three candidates vying in the July 13 Democratic Primary for the Democratic nomination to be the Party’s candidate for election to Congress for the 3rd District.  The winner of the special primary will be on the November ballot, opposing the Republican incumbent, Mike Turner.

It’s hard to agree that 25 year old Joe Roberts is the Dems’ “best bet.”  Roberts, through no fault of his own, obviously, is a light weight, a novice.  He hardly seems ready to be running for the U.S. Congress.  Who at age 25 would be? Evidently, Roberts has a degree in political science, but he is lacking in the maturity and life experience needed to relate to most voters in the 3rd District.

The fact that the DDN would choose such an unlikely candidate as Roberts for U. S. Congress as the “best bet,” indicates how weak the DDN sees the other two possible Democratic choices.

Right now, of the three choices, in my judgment, it seems the “Democrats’ best bet” is former local TV personality, 48 year old Guy Fogle. I’ve had a long conversation with Fogle, and I’m impressed with his life story, his personality, his attitude.  I think he comes off as credible, responsible and likeable.  Of the three Democrats seeking nomination, I think, in the general election, Fogle is the most likely to attract voters who previously have supported Mike Turner.  Of the three choices, it seems likely that Fogle is the one that would be the “best bet” to give Turner the best run, and is the candidate that Turner would least prefer.

I would like to be able to go to bat for 47 year old blogger David Esrati. But David makes it difficult to do so.  But, even at that, the DDN’s judgment on Esrati, I think, is too harsh and unfair:  “Known for a confrontational temperament, he (Esrati) is unsuited to public office, better suited to gadfly status.”

David, I feel, is suited for public office, and if elected, would do a good job.  But it seems highly unlikely that he could ever be elected. The letter of recommendation from the “Ice Bandit,” that David chose to print in the DDN, I fear, shows David’s bent toward acrimony, and acrimony in no way could be part of a winning strategy.   The “Ice Bandit” paints David as a super hero type of figure.  His recommendation says, “As a former Special Forces paratrooper, Esrati knows freedom will always be under assault. This is the metal from which David Esrati was forged.” I feel this emphasis is impossible to make a winning strategy.

If he wins the nomination, Roberts’ youth and inexperience will be an issue.  It seems likely that the average voter will not think Roberts is ready to be a congressman.  In order to gain support, Roberts would need to show an extraordinary campaign with excellent and provocative ideas for how he would conduct himself as a congressman. He would need to surround himself with a group of solid and capable advisers.  But, even if he could pull such a campaign off, his youth would still remain a big distraction.

I’m impressed with Roberts’ web-site, but it seems unlikely that Roberts will have the capacity to form himself and his campaign sufficiently to be a credible candidate.   I feel it is unlikely that he will be seen as a serious candidate and unlikely he will articulate a winning strategy.  But, I am withholding judgment.  The debate tomorrow, June 30, at the Democratic Headquarters, I’m hoping, will clarify a lot of questions.

Guy Fogle, I think, has the people skills, the personality, the speaking skills, needed to be an effective candidate. He has a life story that gives him the capacity for empathy to understand the plight of many in the 3rd District.  See:  Guy Fogle’s Life Story — Overcoming Adversity Of Cancer, Bankruptcy — Might Help Him Gain Votes

Right now, I’m thinking I will vote for Guy Fogle.  He seems to me the “best bet” to appeal to voters in the 3rd District who are looking for an alternative to Mike Turner.  It seems to me, he would have the potential to draw more voters to his candidacy than either Esrati or Roberts could draw.  And, if elected, I have confidence that Fogle would be a responsible congressman who would much more effectively represent interests of voters in the 3rd District than Mike Turner has ever done.

David Esrati is seeking the Democratic Party’s nomination to be the candidate for congress representing Ohio’s 3rd District.  The League of Women Voters has asked each of the three candidates to write a 150 word “endorsement essay statement” to be printed in the newspaper, and on his blog, David invited readers to give him suggestions for his LWV piece by writing a proposed version.  So here is my thought:

Our democracy is in trouble.  Our system is failing us.  A Congressional election is an opportunity to choose a leader — not a bureaucrat, a party man, or a politician — a leader, one who will work to bring out the best in individuals, one who will inspire and empower common problem solving.

I am known as the “Dayton blogger” and over the last few years, I’ve dedicated myself to researching and writing about the issues of our day.  As representative, I would have the resources to fully develop an internet community and, I would promise to dedicate myself to using every possible opportunity to communicate with and to educate the public.

This campaign should be all about vitalizing our democracy through effective leadership.  I have a specific plan and vision of leadership that is in marked contrast to the present void, one that will work to create authentic community.

This version is in an endorsement style:

A Congressional election is an opportunity to choose a leader — one who works to bring out the best in individuals, one who empowers the common good.

David Esrati is known as “the Dayton blogger,” and, over the years, he has researched and posted many excellent articles.  David is an expert in using the web and his web-site is the hub of a small web-based community.

Leadership is all about creating and empowering community. If elected, David would have tremendous resources available to a congressman, and, these resources would allow him to expand his small hub to include the entire 3rd District.

The 3rd District can be won for a Democrat — if people wake up to the fact that our democracy is in trouble.  It is clear: we can’t revitalize our democracy by putting our faith in traditional politicians, and by continuing business as usual.  Citizens are looking for authentic leaders.  David Esrati is the best choice.