My Mother Went From Being Chair of the Local Republican Party to a Screaming Progressive

Mother made national news years ago when she took issue with the county judge, a Democrat, meeting with him in his office to demand that campaign signs for Democrats be removed from the courthouse lawn. The law was clear that these signs were not allowed within a certain distance of the building. The judge argued but, soon, acquiesced and my mother was declared the victor. She's always spoken her mind.

Our house was political. Hosting receptions for gubernatorial candidates, Mother would introduce them to local business owners. She organized teams to call registered Republicans, urging them to vote. Back then, this effort hardly made a dent.

Even we children were summoned to duty-handing out brochures. I remember when some anonymous caller phoned and wanted to know if the "little Nazis" would be out on the streets again with their propaganda.

Election night was always exciting. The telephone spent little time on its cradle as person after person called to discuss returns.

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