two weeks before Election Day.”
“That’s true, but you know the old saying: ‘In politics a week is like a year.’”
“I thought that’s ‘A day is like a month.’”
“You get the idea.”
¶ ¶ ¶
“Councilwoman Cassie McClellan earned a rousing ovation today as the featured speaker at the Annual Professional Women’s Luncheon. Afterwards, she sat down with our Ben Hansen.”
“I must say, Ms. McClellan, you really seemed to connect with your audience.”
“Thanks, Ben, but I don’t think such enthusiasm was for me personally. It’s our ‘move-on-hands-off’ theme that hits home.”
“You’re very modest.”
“Just honest.”
“Fair enough. Tell me, Ms. McClellan, for those listeners just getting to know you, where would you say you belong on the political spectrum?”
“You mean am I conservative, liberal—”
“Whatever.”
“I’ll tell you, Ben. I don’t like labels—”
“Even so, how would you define yourself—”
“I also don’t think I fit any particular category—”
“I understand. Of course, quite a few observers have called you a strong conservative voice—”
“And I suppose I am. In certain ways.”
“For instance?’
“I don’t like wasting money.”
“A lot of politicians say that.”
“But most of them still throw it away on useless government projects.”
“We’re probably all aware—”
“And that’s not how I operate, either as a member of the Council or as a mother at home. If my family and I can’t afford something, we don’t buy it. Even when we want a special present for one of the children, we never spend what we don’t have. And I try to apply that same principle to our city budget.”
“Many politicians claim to agree with you, but when they get into office, they somehow let our money fly out the window—”
“That’s a trend I want to change.”
“I hope you succeed.”
“Thanks. By the way, if I may correct you, I don’t think of myself as a politician. Something about that word bothers me—”
“I guess it does have some unpleasant implications.”
“A lot of ‘em.”
“Of course, you have to admit that you do work in politics—”
“I prefer to call it ‘public service.’”
¶ ¶ ¶
“Councilwoman Cassie McClellan has announced that she will be a candidate for State Assembly . . .”
“Welcome to the show, Ms. McClellan. Now for those listeners to whom yours is a new voice, could you tell us about your background?”
“Well, I moved here three years ago with my husband and children.”
“And what does Mr. McClellan do?”
“He’s a—”
“It is Mr. McClellan, isn’t it?”
“It certainly is.”
“Because these days you never know.”
“I understand, but I guess I’m an old-fashioned girl, because I was more than happy to take my husband’s name.”
“Just checking. Please go on. You were explaining what he does.”
“Phil is a Vice-President for Human Resources at the Crandall Corporation.”
“Quite an important position.”
“I’m very proud of him.”
“Now, apart from your work on the Council, do you have a job?”
“You mean outside my home?”
“Exactly.”
“Ben, my primary responsibility is taking care of my family, and to my mind that’s a full-time career, as well as the most important one I know—”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to imply that women—”
“I’m sure you didn’t. But remember: we homemakers work just as hard . . . maybe harder . . . than anyone else.”
“Of course you do. And I certainly hope I didn’t offend any of our female listeners—”
“But to answer your question, before my children came along, I did explore another field.”
“Could you tell us—”
“After I earned my Master’s degree in Art History, I was both a college instructor and a museum curator—”
“That must have been a fascinating—”
“It was. And I loved my work. But when my husband and I decided to have a family, we agreed that I would stay at home full-time and concentrate on raising our kids.”
“Do you consider that decision a sacrifice?”
“Some people may see it that way, but for us it was simply a matter of establishing priorities. We’ve always believed that the first few years of a child’s life are crucial. And to us nothing’s more vital than the well-being of our children.”
“How old are they now?”
“Emily is eleven, and Ethan is six.”
“Classic American names.”
“That’s what we wanted.”
“Both are in school, I trust.”
“They are.”
“And over the years you’ve supported them by giving time to a variety of parent-teacher initiatives.”
“As a mother, I think I have that responsibility.”
“In fact, it was one particular moment at a School Board meeting
