George,

I am a forty-something, democrat, woman, mother-of-four, lawyer (read nothing into that ordering of adjectives, please) and have never officially endorsed anyone that I can think of, but then again, I can't think of anyone ever caring intensely about who I endorsed for anything. However, free pie is free pie, and Bern Ewert should absolutely be on the city council and I have a little story about Bern that provides a snapshot of one of many reasons why.

I have known Bern for over a year -- long before he decided to run for city council. We regularly discuss political issues, and Bern has always been notably interested in other peoples' positions, no matter what they are. He regularly offers to provide me with research that supports positions he takes on issues, and he regularly asks for information on topics about which I have a strong stance. Bern Ewert is supremely dedicated to being informed! . But here's my story.

One day - a day on which the polls were open in Charlottesville and people were out voting - Bern drove by my house, where I was out on the front lawn with my four children under the age of 6 - and rolled down his window and asked if I'd voted. I gestured toward all my children, and noted that my husband was out of town, and said I wasn't going to be able to. Bern pulled into my driveway and said that he would either stay with them, or help me take them all to the polls, because if I wanted to vote, I should be able to.

I asked (quite cynically, as has become my nature) who it was he wanted me to vote for and he responded (quite sincerely, as is his nature) that he didn't care, as long as I voted. Bern got in my mini-van, drove to the polls, held several sticky little hands and waited, patient and smiling, while I voted. I think that is just one of many powerful reasons to vote for him tomorrow.

(PS! Bern wasn't running for anything at the time)

Deirdre M. Enright (electronic mail, February 22, 2002)