Dear Friends,
Here is a brief update from the campaign trail. I appreciate your support, enthusiasm, and interest!
In Brief:
- Another Endorsement! – League of Conservation Voters.
- Campaign Finance: Some exaggerate, but numbers don’t lie.
(A quick review of the latest campaign finance reports.)
- New website launches and rolls out newest endorsements.
- Sargent Campaign in the news, a lot!
- Call for volunteers for final campaign push.
- Missed opportunity.
- Fundraising Event. (Dr. Curtis holds an Ice Cream Social.)
- Meet and Greet Schedule!
The Details:
- The League of Conservation Voters endorses Sargent.
The League of Conservation Voters has endorsed me in my bid for State Assembly, joining leading environmental groups, conservationists, and environmentalists. The group also endorsed one of my opponents. I think it is great that they are looking to be supportive of not just candidates like myself with solid conservation work experience, but also of candidates that promise to work on environmental issues. As I said in my acceptance press release, “It's important that we continue to cultivate environmental advocacy.”
- Campaign Finance: some exaggerate, but numbers don’t lie.
(A quick review of the latest campaign finance reports.)
Sometimes in campaigns, candidates tend to exaggerate just a bit on past success and accomplishments. The most recent exaggerations are all concerning fundraising reports. Exaggerations boil down to words, but the numbers simply speak for themselves.
Here are a few facts about the top three fundraisers from the latest campaign finance reports:
- I have raised twice as much from the 81st District as my nearest competitor and ten times that of the other candidate in the top three.
- Going into the final stretch, I have significantly more funds on hand than any of my opponents. (Something that the Isthmus found important to mention.)
- Of all the candidates, I have the most donations to date and the smallest average donation of the top three fundraisers.
- I lead in overall money raised, which is a surprise as I have concentrated mostly on doors while my opponents have concentrated much more on fundraising.
Campaign finances are an interesting sneak peak into a candidate’s world and personality. From mine, you’ll note that I’m frugal with the funds that my supporters have donated and that I don’t tend towards the kind of creative ‘fuzzy’ financing that has gotten our state into fiscal trouble. In my opponents’ reports you see everything from loaning the campaign funds for rental space within the house to bounced checks.
I am already so grateful to the many financial supporters. One important message that I bring to you and my other supporters is that although we have done very well, we are not out of the woods yet and that I still need to raise funds to complete my winning grassroots effort. While the Sargent Campaign has visited over 30,000 doors, your ongoing financial help allows me to keep visiting voters and I would love to continue that get-out-the-vote effort.
- New website launches and rolls out fresh endorsements.
We launched an improved website with a number of new features. One of the exciting new features is the number of endorsements that we have received and the comments and quotes that people have shared. Even before we announced the new and improved website, we were getting great feedback and new additions. (Let me know if you want your comments/quote to be added.) One of my opponents recently made the claim of having the most endorsements of elected and appointed officials, must be that same fuzzy math again, as we are still rolling ours out! I appreciate all the quotes and endorsements that are coming in and I’ve been especially impressed with the 81+ women from the 81st District that have stepped forward in support of electing me to the Assembly. Please check out the site and give me feedback. Also if you are on Facebook, one of the fasting growing communication tools on the web, make sure to connect with me. We have a thriving and active site on Facebook.
- Sargent Campaign in the news, a lot!
There has been some interest in this race! The Cap Times had another article about endorsements and mentioned my endorsement by the Clean Wisconsin Action Fund, a group dedicated to clean air and water and renewable energy. Even the Isthmus had an article about endorsements, although they did not mention a number of my big endorsements.
The Northside News came out yesterday. I was surprised to read through the letters to the editor, all supporting my bid for Assembly. I think a true measure of grassroots campaign strength is the number of letters to the editor that supporters send in especially early in the campaign. The Northside News has a long tradition of fairly printing letters from Northside neighborhoods and of allowing political discourse, and I am proud to be part of this discussion.
- Call for volunteers for final campaign push.
We are entering the final phase of the primary campaign and need all the help that we can get. We will take anything from an hour to a week, whatever you can spare. Your help in this last stretch can bring our grassroots campaign to victory.
- Missed opportunity.
Every campaign has a missed opportunity. One of my opponents and I were unable to attend the League of Women Voters Candidate forum taping. I would have loved to have participated, but despite a valiant effort to return prior to the start of taping, I did not make it. It would have been unfair to the League and the other candidates to ask that they delay. My apologies to the League who does such an amazing job helping educate voters on their options. Fortunately, interested voters will be able to see an addendum to the forum with my video answers to the questions the league asked. We plan to have the video link posted on my website by the end of the week.
Fundraising:
Next Event:
Dr. Erin Curtiss is sponsoring an Ice Cream Social and Fundraiser for our campaign on August 28th from 6 pm to 7 pm, 10 Wyldewood Circle – Madison. (More info online) RSVP to me at sargentforassembly@sbcglobal.net if you plan to attend so that we can make sure to have plenty of frozen treats! More info online at my website.
We are getting close to the end of the primary! Your donations keep me at the doors. If you have not done so recently, please take just a few seconds to click the link below to make a secure online donation. $250, $130, $75, or whatever you are comfortable with, to make sure that my grassroots efforts are backed up by sufficient funds to win this important race.
https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/entity/18241
Good old-fashioned checks in the mail are also great! Checks can be written to Justin Sargent for Assembly and mailed to 1638 Mayfield Lane, Madison, WI 53704.
I encourage you to think of friends or family that might want to join you in supporting me. Your grassroots fundraising can help to build a winning campaign.
Candidate Meet and Greets Scheduled:
This race is the first opportunity in a generation to elect a new Representative. As someone deeply involved in my community and running a positive grassroots campaign, I am working to be as available and as possible to any who want to share their concerns or thoughts. This accessibility will be something I continue as I serve in the Legislature. I hope that I see you at one of these:
Saturday Aug 9: 4pm Tailgate and Talk with Justin at the Mallards - Warner Park parking lot - Southeast corner, Madison
Monday Aug 11: 11am Lemonade Meet and Greet - Black Earth Veterans Memorial Park Pavilion, Black Earth
Tuesday Aug 12: 7:30am Coffee with the Candidate - Coffee Gallery - 1865 Northport Dr, Madison
Thursday Aug 14: 5:30pm Ice Cream Social at The Sargent Home - 1638 Mayfield Lane, Madison
Friday Aug 15: 8am Coffee at Main Street Diner, Waunakee
Sunday Aug 17: 4pm Meet n Greet hosted by the 81+ Women for Justin Sargent - 4922 N. Sherman Ave, Madison
Tuesday Aug 19: 7:30am Coffee at Crossroads Café, Cross Plains
Wednesday Aug 20: 7:30am Coffee at Starbucks – Starbucks, 6709 Frank Lloyd Wright #100, Middleton
Thursday Aug 21: 7:30am Coffee with the Candidate - Einstein Brothers Bagels Store, 3904 E. Washington Ave, Madison
Friday Aug 22: 8:30am Coffee with the Candidate – Whistle Stop Café, Mazomanie
Monday Aug 25: 5pm Lemonade Meet and Greet - Black Earth Veterans Memorial Park Pavilion, Black Earth
Tuesday Aug 26: 5pm Iced Tea at the Home of Jeanette Paulson & Gayle Ihlenfeld, 1205 Burning Wood Way, Madison
Thursday Aug 28: 8am Coffee at Main Street Diner, Waunakee
Friday Aug 29: 7:30am Coffee at the Crossroads Café, Cross Plains
Wednesday Sep 3: 7:30am Coffee with the Candidate - Coffee Gallery, 1865 Northport Dr, Madison
Each availability lasts about an hour and if there is sufficient interest can be extended.
Justin
