![\"MayoralDebate\"](\"http:\/\/andydawkins.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/MayoralDebate.jpg\")
<\/a>1993 Mayoral Debate: Andy Dawkins, John Manillo, Ray Faricy, Norm Coleman, Jerry Isaacs, Marlene Johnson<\/p><\/div>\n
It was a spirited Mayoral Race almost all the way to the wire. I was leading all the way up until two days before the September primary election. On that fateful Sunday a famous radio personality, known for interviewing guests in her hot tub, was the emcee of a prime time mayoral debate on TV before a live audience. All 7 of us were given a green and red placard. The green side spelled out YES in big letters; the red side had NO. Right away rapid fire questions. The fifth question: \u201cHave you smoked marijuana in the past 2 years?\u201d I was the only one who held up green. No gasps from anybody and the next questions quickly followed.<\/p>\n
But by that night it had become a big deal. At my next campaign event (getting endorsed by the Black Police Officers Assn.) I was met by reporters from every major media outlet: When did you smoke marijuana? How often? Where? Any regrets? Other drugs? Etc. I answered honestly: \u201conly a couple times at some party where people were passing around a joint.\u201d It was THE story all the way to the polls 36 hours later. On every radio station. On the front page. A political cartoon with my volunteer shirts saying \u201cDawkins Delivers.\u201d I always suspected it was a planted question. To this day I have only two major regrets in my life (both deal with smoking): smoking cigarets and not dropping that frigging sign and saying \u201cDumb question. Move on.\u201d How I started smoking and my Mark Twain method of quitting are a different story; also a full-length version of The Race for Mayor is in the appendix to the hard copy of this book because it was such a pivotal point in my life with so much more dynamics and investment of effort by me and others that the (two times) smoking pot should have been dwarfed. For now suffice to say I came in Second.<\/p>\n
Second turned out to be terrific all in itself. During the campaign I had fallen in love. Two weeks later I proposed to El, my best campaign volunteer, kneeling in the waters off Madiera Beach. I woke-up that day having been thinking for two straight weeks: \u201cYes, I\u2019d hoped to be the Mayor for all the kids in the City, being single and working every moment, but you know what, it\u2019s time to get married and start a family.\u201d I got out of bed, went across the street to buy a ring; YES! she said.<\/p>\n
Tomorrow: How my BB bat was saved<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By 1993 we had built a political dynasty, and it was time to get me elected Mayor. No, I\u2019m just kidding, you don\u2019t build a political dynasty just being girlfriend & boyfriend serving one year together in the Legislature. The … Continue reading