Thank You

Thank you, all for your support. I am of course disappointed with the results, but not the effort, the kindness, and the help I've received over the last few months. We did a lot together that we can be proud.

My congratulations, also to Alderpersons Lutz and Martin.

This is it!

Last stretch! Remember:

*The polls are open for another 90 MINUTES. IT IS NOT TOO LATE TO VOTE!

*Lawrence Students--the shuttle is still running to Alex

*Primary Elections often have low turnout. That means that every single vote matters even more than usual.

*If you haven't voted yet, vote! If you know someone in the 4th, ask if they've voted yet, and remind them they have a few more hours to be heard!

*I believe in our District. I believe that we can beat the expectations of a low turnout, that we can do something special and historic tonight, against two incumbents. Together, we can help make Appleton an even better home for all us.

Thank you all for everything you've done, and your support and encouragement since the beginning of this campaign. Let's do this together!

And then join me if you can, please, to help celebrate what we have all accomplished together at the Fox River House tonight.

Primary Election is Today!

Today's the day! Polls open in just about an hour, and will be open until 8pm. The polling place for District 4 is Alexander Gym. I need your help to add another strong, clear, consistently progressive voice to the Common Council. Here's you chance to be heard; here's our chance to show that the people who think our hopes and concerns don't matter are dead wrong.

Let's make history today, together!

Student Information for Tomorrow's Vote!

Important information from the Lawrence Student's page:

Appleton Spring Primary

Tuesday, February 21st – polls will be open from 7 am – 8 pm. Shuttles to the polls (Alexander Gym) will depart from Warch Campus Center every hour, with the first shuttle at 7 am and the last shuttle at 7 pm.

Bring a valid form of identification to the polls, one of the following:

valid Wisconsin driver’s license
federal passport
valid Wisconsin state ID or free voter ID
Lawrence issued voter ID (please note this is NOT your student ID


Lawrence issued voter ID cards are available free from the Warch Campus Center ID office any time during business hours.

Letter of Support in Today's Post Cresecent

Sunday's PC included a thoughtful letter in support of my candidacy. Thank you!

Less than 48 hours before the polls open! Remind your friends about the primary; turnout will be critical, and I need your help, and your voice.

The Primary is almost here. Be Heard!

Less than a week to go to the primary! Remember that you can make a difference. The drafters and supports of the Voter ID provisions are discounting your power, your opinion, and your energy.

You matter. Your voice needs to be heard. This Tuesday, let's use this primary to show that the cynical politics of disenfranchisement are not part of our bright future.

The above map, which can be found below and on the city website (http://www.appleton.org/i/d/community_development/pdf/Dist4.pdf) shows the new boundaries of the 4th District.

Absentee Ballot for Spring elections

absentee ballot application

Post Cresecent Statement

Completed Post Crescent Candidate Statement:

Megan Pickett

» Address: 119 N. Rankin St.

» Age: 46

» Occupation: Associate professor of physics, Lawrence University

» Political experience: None

» Campaign websites:

https://www.facebook.com/MeganPickettForAlderperson,

http://meganpickettforalderperson.blogspot.com/,

https://twitter.com/#!/meg_pickett_04

» Why are you running? District 4 combines businesses, families and Lawrence University, representing a rare opportunity to lead the city in economic and community development. I want to represent all of this diverse new district, as well as be a powerful advocate for the city. We need alderpersons who find areas of agreement, while steadfastly defending the core principles that are a proud part of our Wisconsin heritage. I’ll bring my fierce devotion to progressive ideas to the council, and I will not back away from these fundamental values of equity and equality. I know that we can be fiscally responsible and remain socially responsive.

» What are the key issues? I support the development plans the mayor and the Council have approved for downtown. I support efforts to celebrate and increase our city’s diversity, starting with the make-up of the Council itself. We need to partner better and more aggressively with our local universities, businesses and neighbors to meet our community’s challenges. To truly lead in the Fox Valley, we must improve our online presence and access. We’re no longer a Yellow Pages society; we’re a Web Pages society. Above all, residents and businesses deserve to know what the Council and city are doing, in a transparent, readily available way.

Words Hurt Campaign

I was honored to take part in Appleton East's "Words Hurt" campaign last week, speaking with an audience of high school students and their teachers about hope, hard work, and the unnecessary tears that bullying of any kind causes. Sometimes even the luckiest of us has been alone, or hurt, or felt the sting of being on the margins at some point in her life. These are amazing young adults, and we need to hear them when they are in pain. I commend East for this truly amazing program!

Appleton launches diversity project

A worthwhile project that will help people come together through their differences. As the article states, the initiative is "based on a popular program from Oregon, the 'Walk A Mile' project will tackle immigration, homelessness, domestic violence, veterans issues and mental health over the course of 2012."

Also worth reading is the second section of the article, which returns to the domestic partner benefits program. Since no city employee has yet to sign up for the benefit, the cost to the city has been, in fact, zero. I assume this means that those opponents to the program who argued, loudly, that their stance was purely a fiscal one will immediately issue retractions.

Diversity Project

Kanga is Tops!

Mobile Cuisine is holding a contest for the Rookie of the Year Mobile Food Truck. Appleton's very own Kangaroostaurant is right in the running. Please do vote for them, and if you haven't eaten there, do go visit! The food is fantastic, and Jay & Kelly are wonderful people. Kudos to them, and what they clearly mean to Appleton (they are competing with trucks from some pretty big cities).

Food Truck Rookie of the Year

City Notes, Part 2: Fairness and Leadership

In the second part of the P-C article, Alderperson Teege Metille discussed the battle--and it was one--to include domestic partner benefits for city employees, and his recent radio interview. I was present at most of these council meetings and spoke on behalf of the DPB program and the Diversity Coordinator position. I want to express my gratitude and appreciation for the stalwart and unwavering leadership demonstrated by several council members and Mayor Hanna. They were and are powerful and consistent voices for fairness. The chorus of community voices who spoke with dignity, grace, and eloquence was moving.

City Notes

City Notes, Part 1: Community Safety Net

There will be a chance for the public to speak about the change in policy for the distribution of Appleton's federal community development block grant award, an award that has decreased significantly over the last decade. Last month, the Council--in a somewhat contentious meeting--agreed to a new distribution of funds, in which more than 80% of the grant money would be sent to city programs. I think this was a necessary solution, particularly the importance given to the Appleton Housing Authority. I strongly recommend people speak up tomorrow.

City Notes

Post Crescent Article on Women in Office

This is an important and unfortunate disparity that needs to be remedied, and one of the reasons I'm running for common council:

http://www.postcrescent.com/article/20120105/APC0101/201050481

Happy New Year!

A very happy New Year to everyone!  We begin campaigning in earnest this week.  Yard signs are popping up in town, and I'll be trying to get to as many doors as I can in the coming weeks.  I would love to hear what is important to you, and what your vision for the district and the city is!