Ideas

This weekend, someone backing the other dude put out a little gleeful dig post, which included this line about me: “he seems like such an unhappy person.” Nope. Not at all. In fact, I’m running because I have hope for a better future, which is a stance based on optimism. But let’s catalog the things … Continue reading On Unhappiness

Ballots are coming to your mailbox soon! And since this is such an important election, we need to ensure that we vote in overwhelming numbers, and do so mindful that unscrupulous political operatives are working hard to prevent that. This week’s Monday Morning sketch session was all about that. Highlights below the video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKxGyKI0RH8 Voter … Continue reading Mailing It In

The following is the text from my third digital town hall, from Tuesday, Sept. 29. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzChvzHMHsA I’m going to open with a story, because our topic tonight is healthcare, and healthcare is personal. Not political, or at least it shouldn’t be political. When we talk about “healthcare,” we’re really talking about you, and how you … Continue reading You Deserve Healthcare

One of the many points of distinction between my opponent, Brad Roae, and me is our attitude toward public investment. I believe that true public investment is an absolutely vital part of government, and that it is crucial toward our recovery as a region. Roae speaks often about, well, the opposite. We need to refuse … Continue reading About Public Investment

https://youtu.be/-8J9ftSMK2E The following is the text from Matt's September 1, 2020 Digital Town Hall Outside, we’re noticing some changes over the last couple of weeks. The leaves are crisping up, and the first blush edges are showing on the trees and — one of the surest signs for those of us who grew up in … Continue reading Back to School 2020

The following is the text from my July 27, 2020 Digital Town Hall on Economic Unfairness: There’s a phrase I use often in explaining the core of my campaign: “We live the stories we tell and the stories people tell about us.” I’m a writer by training, and a teacher of writing and literature, so … Continue reading Economic Unfairness and NWPA

Here we are in July, and the machinery of Flim Flam Politics chugs right along. Coronavirus cases are spinning out of control in states that have refused to take the outbreak seriously enough, and teachers are literally updating their wills and increasing their life insurance because they are being told the same thing other workers … Continue reading Flim Flam Politics and Legislative Poseurs

In light of right-wing trolls piling-on one of my recent posts, it seems appropriate to share this, a version of which I presented in a Live video the day before the Primary: I’d been planning to come on here this morning and talk about hope. About how our beautiful act of civic participation each Election … Continue reading The End of the Easy Part

Minneapolis is on fire right now, as I write. Protests are spreading to other cities. Our President has tweeted threats of violence as his response. Already, on cue, American racism has started to devalue the legitimacy of the peaceful protests that first followed the killing of a black man during his arrest for passing a … Continue reading Yeah, We Need to Talk About Racism

Pretty snazzy, eh? If you have a good spot for one, please fill out this quick form. Wouldn’t this look great in your front yard? And, if you haven’t seen it yet, check out my OpEd from today’s Erie Times-News. We can recover into a better future if we can build a legislature that cares. … Continue reading Signs and The Times