Thanks in advance for any help!

In 2006 there were about a half dozen people running for mayor, two people running for Council Chairman, a competitive At-Large Council Member race, about a dozen people running in Ward 3, even more in Ward 5, and a few in Ward 6. The excitement of the mayor’s race and about 50 candidates all getting signatures made for a number opportunities to get a lot of signatures at one event like a debate or endorsement vote.

This time around, there’s no mayor’s race, no Council Chair race, no real race to speak of in the at-large seat (talking Democratic primary, not the general where are few people are looking at Carol Schwartz) and no real competition in Ward 4 or Ward 7. That lack of excitement and dearth of petition gathering operations makes my job that much harder.

I do like going out and getting the signatures, I really do, it’s fun to talk to people at events and farmer’s markets. Most people are nice and sign right away, some need some facts before they sign, and some say they need to know more. Some even know who I am…which is always a trip since I never assume anyone has heard of me.

It’s a great way to meet people, and since I got just about all 2,000 signatures plus myself in 2006, I do think it’s why I won. I just wish I didn’t have to get so freakin’ many!!

So if you see me in front of the metro, a Safeway, or at a local farmers market…please come over and sign my petition and bring a few friends along. If you want to help get signatures, shoot me an email at mike.panetta(at)gmail.com.

Not sure if anyone is going to challenge me yet, but I’m going to run like someone is regardless.

The biggest challenge last time, and this time, is getting the required signatures to get on the September 9th primary ballot. Because this is a city wide office, I need to get 2,000 signatures from registered Democrats in the District…and that’s just the minimum. I really need about 3,000-4,000 signatures to make sure I can survive any challenges to my petitions. It didn’t happen last time, but you can’t take anything for granted.

If anyone wants to help me get some signatures, even if it’s only a few, please give me a holler at mike(at)mikepanetta.com.

See you out on the streets!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8dR7rqrEGA

Apparently she starting lobbying Strauss about the need to save the whales, and he was supportive but reminded her that he couldn’t vote. So she agreed to do this. She’s my hero!

If you don’t live in DC, but still want to help you can donate to the Free and Equal DC Fund here: https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/entity/18798

One of the great things about the role I play as Shadow Representative is that I’ve meet so many wonderful people I otherwise would have not had the opportunity to get to know. Mike was definitely one of those people. We’re all better after knowing a guy like Mike — he’ll be sorely missed.

Below is some more information from Kesh Ladduwahetty, of DC for Democracy:

Our dear friend and colleague, Mike Shor, died of a heart attack this weekend in Taos, New Mexico. He was struck down in full stride. When I last spoke with Mike about a week ago, he was having a whale of a time skiing and enjoying fine southwestern cuisine. It’s very, very hard to imagine he’s gone.

There is no replacing Mike. I first met him in 2004, when he was training Howard Dean supporters on door-to-door canvassing for the DC primary. After DC for Democracy was founded in 2005, Mike became my closest comrade in grassroots politics, as well as my very dear friend. His stature in our small community of grassroots activists is difficult to exaggerate. A founding member of DC for Dean, DC for Democracy, and most recently, DC for Obama, he thought on a grand level, and he backed up those big ideas with tactical brilliance and unequalled stamina. His passing leaves a void that will be felt for a very long time.

No one of us can do justice to Mike’s memory; we will have to pool our efforts. Our meetup this Wednesday, April 2nd will be the first opportunity for many of us who knew and loved Mike to meet since his passing. We will accordingly devote the latter part of the meetup to a collective remembrance. As usual, we will meet in the back room of Ben’s Chili Bowl at 1213 U Street. Please note that the meetup will start at 7:30PM, a little later than usual. Our main topic of discussion at the meetup will be our plans for the presidential primary campaign (more on that very soon).

If you would like to make a suggestion regarding our meetup, please email us at dcfordemocracy@gmail.com

If you would like to send a card or gift to Mike’s family, please mail to the following address:

Mike Shor c/o Susan Clampitt
13 9th Street, SE
Washington, DC 20003

A memorial service for Mike is expected sometime in May, and we will let you know the details as they emerge. And rest assured, we will remain in close touch with Irmgard Hunt, Mike’s longtime partner, to give her the help and support that she needs in this difficult time.

Sincerely,
Kesh Ladduwahetty
Chair

It’s frustrating that the U.S. Mint would outright reject the designs submitted by Mayor Fenty. If New Hampshire can have the slogan “Live Free or Die” on their quarter, I don’t see why the District can’t have “Taxation Without Representation”. Both slogans and ideals were fundamental in the founding of this nation — even if the promise of the latter is still being fought for in the District.

I’m glad we submitted those designs - the more opportunities to talk about this issue on a national scale, the better. Mayor submits designs, U.S. Mint rejects them, Mayor gets to tell everybody why, more people understand our situation in DC. Lather, rinse, repeat…the more times we can run through that cycle, the better!

What do you think?

(WASHINGTON, DC February 11, 2008): Mike Panetta, the elected U.S. “Shadow” Representative for the District of Columbia, today announced his endorsement of Barack Obama for President.

“The torch has been passed to Senator Obama as the vanguard of a new generation of leadership, and I know he’ll use that torch to light the fires of democracy here in the District of Columbia,” said Representative Panetta. “It’s clear to me that Senator Obama can bring hope to our nation, and hope to those fighting for full citizenship right here in America’s capital.”

“If we are serious about permanently ending our ‘taxation without representation’ situation we will need a leader in the White House who can bring together Democrats, Republicans, and Independents,” Panetta added. “Barack Obama possesses both the passion and pragmatism to make it happen.”

“With Barack Obama in the White House, we’ll have a president who will tirelessly work to ensure that his new neighbors are given the same voting rights in Congress that other American citizens enjoy. I encourage all District voters to join me on Tuesday in supporting Barack Obama in his campaign to become the next president of the United States.”

About Mike Panetta

Mike Panetta was elected to the District-wide position of Statehood Representative in the District of Columbia in November 2006. The office is commonly referred to as the U.S. “Shadow” Representative and should not be confused with the position of Delegate to the House of Representatives currently held by Eleanor Holmes Norton. The office has traditionally served as advocate for DC statehood and full congressional voting rights.

Why are we going up to New Hampshire the day after the big primary? Good question. We are going to testify in support of a bill in the New Hampshire legislature that expresses regret that New Hampshire’s United States Senators voted to deny the District of Columbia the right to be represented in the Congress.

It’s about time we took this fight outside of the District. My hat’s off to Councilmember David Catania who championed this idea and got it going in the Granite State.

I’ll be mobile blogging as we travel to New Hampshire and keep everyone up to date on how things are going. This should be a great day for the District !!

I’ll be mobile blogging from New Hampshire. You can follow along by going to FreeAndEqualDC.com or signing up to follow me on Twitter.com (MikePanetta is my screen name).

Hilda Howland M. Mason was born in Campbell County, Virginia, on June 14, 1916. She moved to the District of Columbia in 1945. Ms. Mason has been a teacher, counselor, supervising instructor, and an assistant principal in the District of Columbia Public Schools. She has authored research and professional studies and has served as an educational consultant and lecturer.

Ms. Mason served on the District of Columbia Board of Education representing Ward Four (an elected position) from January 1972 to April 1977, and she founded the Ward Four Council on Education. Ms. Mason was appointed to the Council of the District of Columbia on April 2, 1977, to fill the vacancy left by the death of Julius W. Hobson. She was elected in 1977 to completed the term and re-elected in 1978 for a full term.

Mrs. Mason has been re-elected to the Council in 1982, 1986, 1990, and most recently, in November 1994.

DC Vote Tea Party: The Revolution is Still Brewing

Join DC Vote as we commemorate the 234th Anniversary of the Boston Tea Party by calling for an end to Taxation Without Representation.

When: Sunday, December 16, 1:30 - 2:30 PM

Where: Georgetown Waterfront Park

What: Rally, speeches, and a reenactment of the Boston Tea Party

Plus, free tea bags that say ‘End Taxation Without Representation.’