Adrian Fenty

I had the pleasure of meeting Adrian Fenty last night.

Around 7:00, the Fenty campaign descended on my block. At first, I saw some people standing outside with green stickers on and clipboards. I was initially disturbed, thinking that I already have to politely ignore Greenpeace while getting lunch at work, God help them if the interrupt me in my neighborhood. Then I saw a Fenty placard being placed on one of my neighbors yards, and behold there was the man himself.

I put my shoes on and head down to meet the candidate. This was the first honest to goodness campaign stop that I have seen. Growing up in Arlington, my vote was pretty much taken for granted, but I guess in a hotly contested election people are going to have to listen to me, or at least pretend to.

One of Mr. Fenty's campaign people greeted me outside my front door and began to tell me how great the councilman was. He then calls out to Mr. Fenty and gestures for him to come over and meet me. Mr. Fenty came over, shook my hand, and asked me if I had decided who I was going to vote for in the upcoming election. I told him that I honestly didn't know, and that it was still early in the race. He said that he understood and asked me to read over the material that had been handed to me. Unfortunately he was called away to another house before I got a chance to ask him any questions.

So that is the whole of my encounter. My first impression was that I liked that he just showed up on my block to meet the neighbors. Also, we have some less than savory people who hang around, and Mr. Fenty made a point of introducing himself to them. In particular, while I was talking with him, a heavily intoxicated homeless man stumbled through, and Mr. Fenty made a point to introduce himself and shake his hand. While he is a politician, it would have been very easy to let this guy just pass through. I don't know why, it made an impression on me.