The Most Important Endorsement I've Received
My mother thinks I'm handsome.
She also thinks I'm wicked smaaaaaaaht, and honestly, she and my wife may be the only two people in Rhode Island who think both.
Like most mothers, she's always been one of my biggest supporters, but lately, she's also become the unofficial Chairman Emeritus of Moms for Mark.
My mother is 91 years old.
She's facing some health challenges. Getting around isn't as easy as it used to be. There are plenty of reasons she could stay home, but she doesn't.
She still comes to campaign events.
She still asks how things are going.
She still follows what's happening in Rhode Island.
She still votes, and she still believes Rhode Island is worth showing up for.
I find that inspiring.
One of the reasons I decided to run for State Senate is because I became frustrated watching people lose faith that things can get better. I hear it all the time.
"Nothing ever changes."
"The same people always win."
"Why bother?"
I understand those feelings. Sometimes I share them, but every time I hear someone say that, I think about people like my mother.
At 91 years old, she could easily decide that politics isn't worth her time anymore. She could decide that someone else can worry about the future.
Instead, she keeps showing up.
That matters because democracy only works when people participate.
You don't have to run for office.
You don't have to knock on doors.
You don't even have to agree with me, but you do have to show up.
Show up and vote.
Show up at local meetings.
Show up when your community needs volunteers.
Show up when important decisions are being made.
Show up when your voice matters.
Apathy has consequences.
When good people stop participating, other people make the decisions for them.
Rhode Island doesn't need everyone to agree.
Rhode Island doesn't need everyone to support the same candidates.
Rhode Island simply needs more people to care enough to participate.
If a 91-year-old can still show up, maybe the rest of us don't have much excuse for sitting on the sidelines.
Showing up matters, and if you'd like to join the Moms for Mark team, we'd love to have you.
After all, the Chairman Emeritus is always looking for new members.
