< CA > Los Angeles (2)

It looks like the race for California Assembly District 51 may well be decided during the September 1 primary election.

For directions, enter your ZIP code: 

Out of all candidates, anyone that gets over 50% of the vote is declared the winner. Otherwise a runoff election will take place on November 3 between the top vote-getters from each party.

According to a recent news article, one candidate has the endorsement of Inglewood's mayor. And after taking a peek at the websites and track records of each candidate, it looks like this candidate is clearly the front-runner.

But the question remains as to whether any of the candidates are biker-friendly. I've asked ABATE of California for their take on each of them. We always defer to the SMRO when it comes to local politics. Once we hear back from them, we can decide whether any candidates are worth fighting for. Then it's up to local bikers to roll up their sleeves.

And speaking of local bikers, we need more subscribers in California. Though 2009 is an off-year for legislative elections, that doesn't mean nothing's happening. Of course there's the AD-51 race going on right now. And then there was the Senate District 26 that blew by everyone on May 19. With a lot of Legislative Alert subscribers, we can pass the word quickly to as many activists as possible. That's a key part of our winning strategy ... getting campaign volunteers to help good candiates win.

Take the first step by clicking on the red "Subscribe" tab at the top of the page. Give us your zip code and we'll let you know when there's a race that's worth your time. Or just email Bikers4BillSponsors@gmail.com for more info on how to repeal Calfornia's helmet law, once and for all.

< VA > Tidewater (2)

ABATE of VA is inviting bikers to a "Yard Sign Party" in Chesapeake, VA. This event is for a biker-friendly candidate who's running for Delegate. And he's up against an incumbent that votes to keep the helmet law in place. This event is scheduled for Saturday, August 1 at 10am.

For directions to this event, enter your ZIP code:
 

If you'd like to help send a biker-friendly candidate to the state legislature, contact us at Bikers4BillSponsors@Gmail.com. We'll give you all the info you need. All you have to do is show up. Better yet, go to B4BS.NET and click on the red "Subscribe" tab.

How easy is that?

< TN > Nashville (3)

Here is an update on the special election for Tennesee House District 62, which lies just south of Nashville. The special primary election will be Thursday, August 27 and the special general election will be on Tuesday, October 13.

Blanton will not seek state House seat

Shelbyville Times-Gazette Sat, 11 Jul 2009
Citing her husband's health, Barbara Blanton has announced that she will not seek the 62nd District State House of Representatives seat in the upcoming special election. ... Pat Marsh and Bobby Scott are declared Republican candidates. On the Democratic side, Ty Cobb is a candidate for the seat...

The question is whether Tennessee bikers will have any influence on this election. That is the first step in building a biker-friendly majority in the state legislature. And without that majority, Tennessee bikers can count on keeping their universal helmet law intact and their rights off the radar.

As I mentioned in my 1st blog entry on this race, it's a great opportunity for Tennessee bikers to get one vote closer to that biker-friendly majority. That's true for any competitive race for the state legislature, and it's especially true for special elections.

What makes this race so special is that it is -- literally -- a "special election." In a nutshell, very few voters turnout for special elections. Getting out the vote (GOTV) is the name of the game, and to do that you need campaign volunteers. Bikers that help a winning candidate earn a friend for life at the state capitol.

You can also read our 2nd blog entry on this special election. And to follow up, I never got a response from any CMT/ABATE officers regarding this race. Not yet, anyway. Hopefully that will change as the election draws near.

From a practical standpoint, there's little chance that Tennessee bikers will have any influence on the outcome. Too many dots to connect. But as always, there will be future opportunities, in Tennessee as well as every other state in the USA.

< DE > Seaford

Here is a news article on a special election for a recently vacated seat in the Delaware state senate.

Date set for special Senate election

Delaware Coast Press
DOVER - Lt. Gov. Matt Denn today announced the date of a special election to fill the state Senate seat left open by the death of Sen. Thurman Adams Jr.

The special election will take place on August 3. Both candidates are already nominated. And the good news is that this district is evenly split between the Republican and Democratic parties. So this is a great opportunity for Delaware bikers to elect a biker-friendly candidate.

The district includes Seaford, site of last year's DelMarVa bike festival, so there are plenty of bikers in the area.

The first step is to let Delaware bikers know about it. The next step is for Delaware bikers to do something about it. But that takes experience, and Delaware is virgin territory when it comes to our network of volunteers. But we do have a few subscribers in the First State, so we have all the basic ingredients.

You can't start a fire without a spark. I'll contact ABATE of Delaware to give them a heads-up. Then we'll just have to wait and see.

You don't have to wait. Just visit B4BS.NET and click on the red Subscribe tab at the top.

< VA > Tidewater (1)

Yesterday I got an email from John B., Virginia Cruisers Chapter Director with ABATE of VA. He's looking for campaign volunteers to come and help with Virginia House District 90. This district is in the Tidewater area of Virginia.

They've scheduled a "lit drop" on Saturday, July 11 in Virginia Beach. It starts at 8am, and probably consists of going door to door, dropping off flyers. No knocking or talking.

And it's a summer weekend in Virginia Beach. How cool is that?

Anyway, this is for a biker-friendly candidate who needs our help. I took a look at this candidate's website, and he's definitely pro-freedom across the board. We'll verify his position on universal helmet laws, but he looks like a very safe bet.

I also checked out his opponent, an incumbent who's been in office since 2004. His voting record shows that he's a consistently anti-biker legislator. After five unsuccessful years of lobbying by bikers, it's high time he got replaced.

If you'd like to help send a biker-friendly candidate to the state legislature, contact us at Bikers4BillSponsors@Gmail.com. We'll give you all the info you need, and all you have to do is show up. Better yet, go to B4BS.NET and click on the red "Subscribe" tab.

How easy is that?

< TN > Nashville (2)

Here is an update on the special election for House District 62, which lies just south of Nashville, TN. The special primary election will be Thursday, August 27 and the special general election will be on Tuesday, October 13.

Special Election dates set for House seat vacted by Cobb

Murfreesboro Post - ‎Jul 3, 2009‎
Phil Bredesen has set dates to hold special elections regarding the vacancy created by the resignation of state Rep. Curt Cobb (D-District 62).
See all stories on this topic

As I mentioned in my last blog entry on this race, it's a great opportunity for Tennessee bikers to get one vote closer to a biker-friendly majority. That's true for any competitive race for the state legislature.

What makes this race so special is that it is -- literally -- a "special election." In a nutshell, very few voters turnout for special elections. Getting out the vote is the name of the game, and to do that you need campaign volunteers. Bikers that help a winning candidate earn a friend for life at the state capitol.

You can also read our previous blog entry on this Tennessee race. In the mean time, I'll reach out to CMT/ABATE to find out if they want to help a biker-friendly candidate win.

Missouri Helmet Law: FAIL

Missouri Governor Nixon broke quite a few hearts, and perhaps a few minds, when he vetoed the helmet law repeal bill.

Of course the bill was pretty lame, keeping helmets mandatory on Interstate highways. Even worse, it would have automatically self-destructed in 5 years. But any step in the right direction is good, no matter how small.

How to Fail

They say the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.

I disagree. It's just stupid.

But most biker activists keep on following the same old game plan:
Rely on almost every tactic except campaign work, and work all year long except during the campaign season.

How could relying on the kindness of strangers ever be better than depending on your most trusted friends? Don't ask me. I don't care aout the least effective way to get results.

How to Stop Failing: Start Winning

The good news is that it doesn't have to be that way. Not any more. With a biker-friendly majority, bikers have rights. Without it, they don't. So the trick is building a biker-friendly majority.

Legislators don't win office by being lucky. They get elected by leading an organization of dedicated volunteers. And when they take office, they work for the people that helped them get elected.

And everyone else? They wait in line for table scraps.

All bikers need to do is get involved as campaign volunteers. And not in just any races. Only the most important ones. Races where there's a choice between a biker-friendly candidate and an arrogant nanny-crat. And the closer the race, the more important every single volunteer becomes.

So stop begging for table scraps. Take your place at the table and eat hearty.

Already Have a Majority?

Okay, it could be claimed that Missouri bikers already had a legislative majority. But that bill was so gunked up, even the leading Missouri SMRO didn't care if it passed. A legislative majority is proof of political power. That bill might as well have been written on the white flag of surrender.

But even presuming bikers had a legitimate majority, where do state governors come from? In most cases, they are former state legislators. Same goes for most higher office, including our current president. State legislatures are the "gene pool" that produces governors.

There is also the possibility of a "super-majority." Get enough biker-friendly legislators and helmet repeal becomes "veto proof." So building a majority remains the most powerful, logical, and do-able thing bikers can do.

Begin at the Beginning

All you need to do is take that all-important first step. Click on the green "How It Works" tab to learn more. Or cut to the chase and become a campaign volunteer in races near you. Subscribe to our Legislative Alerts by clicking on the red tab.

And as always, feel free to shoot me an email at Bikers4BillSponsors@Gmail.com.

< TN > Nashville (1)

I just got this news article on a special election for a recently resigned seat in the state house. The district is just south of Nashville, TN.

Democrat Cobb Resigns State House Seat

Knoxville News Sentinel
His resignation will trigger a special election later this year that could give Republicans a chance to gain a seat in the House, where they now have a ...
See all stories on this topic

Not sure when the special election will take place. But this is a great opportunity for Tennessee bikers to get one vote closer to a biker-friendly majority.

The catch, of course, is whether Tennesee bikers would know about it. And if so, what to do about it. All I can say is "Help spread the word!"