The End Of The Road
Today, for a complicated combination of reasons, my political career came to an end.
It was entirely my choice and not prompted by a scandal or any kind of illegal act. And it wasn’t in protest of anyone else’s conduct or behavior.
I came to the painful realization that it was too difficult not to be a candidate for office and remain around politics. Not just the issue of not now being a candidate for office, but the issue of never again being a candidate for office. Until a couple of weeks ago, I assumed, as most of the people I knew within politics that I would eventually return to the field of battle as a candidate. But within the last couple of weeks, it became clear that the only person in my life who has a veto over whether I run again was very vehement about my never running for office again.
That realization made being around politics like asking a starving man to sit in a kitchen and watch a delicious meal be prepared and tell him he can never eat again. I could no longer find the fire and the passion for the race I was working on — one hell of a good race, I might add — so I knew it was time to hang it up. It wasn’t fair to me, it wasn’t fair to the candidate I was working for and it wasn’t fair to the people on staff looking to me for guidance. So, on this last day of March, I pulled the ripcord and walked away.
Now, this doesn’t mean the end of this blog. I remain first and foremost a writer. It’s been my official occupation for more than 25 years, and one I intend to continue. But it does mean that this blog will probably be less about politics and more about other things.
So, to all who have been friendly and supportive over the years, I thank you, each and every one. It was more appreciated than you could ever know.
I know not what the future holds, but I plan to move boldly into it. Well, as boldly as an old, fat guy with a bad back can move. Stay tuned.


