Katrina Foley will live on
But let's learn a lesson here.
So based on the latest totals, it appears Katrina Foley, the incumbent county supervisor, will march on toward the general election, where she will (yet again) face off against Republican Diane Dixon.
And, based upon voting trends and tendencies, odds are strong Foley pulls out the November win and remains on the job.
However …
In the course of her campaign, I was struck by a few things that someone should probably let Foley in on. And I don’t say this to be jerky, but because this is a local political website, and shit matters to me …
First, never, ever, ever, ever, ever talk like this again.
Never, ever, ever …
Why? Multiple reasons. To begin with, it comes off as waaaaaaay too cocky and self-assured. But even more important, the best way to drive supporters to the polls is to stress the exact opposite of confidence: You’re nervous. Diane Dixon has a wildly smooth apparatus working for her. The hard right is throwing millions of dollars into the race. It’s gonna be super tight. I need all of you to not only vote, but tell your friends to vote.
Second, present better.
Foley is, by all accounts, tremendous at her job. She’s a no-brainer, especially against a bougie lightweight like Dixon. But, man, she isn’t the easiest sell. I attended a Katrina Foley event, oh, seven months ago. A lot of people there. Multiple candidates. And after one Democratic colleague wrapped his remarks by encouraging people to donate to his campaign, Foley stressed that her race was more financially pressing and urgent. It was painfully awkward and inappropriate, but sorta Katrina-esque. You don’t walk away from her thinking, “Man, it’d be great to hang.” You walk away thinking, “I mean, I guess so.”
And, to reiterate: Katrina Foley is great at her job. But she’s not smooth, or warm and cuddly. Which you sorta need to be, especially in local races. Hell, you at least need to fake it a bit. Dixon sucks, but she comes off grandmotherly. People love grandmothers.
Third, knives out.
When we get past this crazy season, it’s time to bring out the butcher knives on Dixon. The woman is a warmed-over MAGA puppet; a Will O’Neill fever dream. She’s unaccomplished, hoity, out of touch, lame. One can coast through a primary with, “Hey, I’m grandma! Want a candy?” But now shit gets real.
Now, we have to take it to Diane Dixon.
Katrina Foley—take it to her.