Knock Knock.
Hello, my name’s Joe Weeg and I’m here to encourage you to vote in the upcoming school board election.
Listen, I HATE door knocking for candidates. Always have. I even hated it when my job was on the line with the many elections of Tom Miller for Attorney General and John Sarcone for Polk County Attorney. I hated door knocking before many of you were even born. Heck, I even hate knock-knock jokes.
But here I am, 20 years ago, at some stranger’s door trying to get them to vote and to vote for my candidate — interrupting their important evening beverage and their even more important scrolling of German Shepherd puppy videos. Who wouldn’t prefer German Shepherd puppies to me at their door? Duh!
I smile a lot. I hand out literature. I answer questions. I wish everyone well. And I go on to the next house.
And please consider my wife, Theresa Weeg, for school board. Here’s some information and I’d be glad to answer any question.
I want to go home. But no, my smart and talented and CONNIVING wife was running for school board. She had done some door knocking here and there, but concluded fairly early on that it was not for her. It was for me. Really? She’s much more personable. She’s the one at any graduation party, wedding, or shower, whooping — “where’s the dancing,” while I’m the one yelling from the bathroom — “have they left yet?” But I assured her that I’d do all the remaining knocking.
What was I thinking? No one wants to hear my spiel. No one wants to engage after a long day at work. And I don’t want to talk to them. My mantra when I approach a door is simple: “please don’t be home, please don’t be home, please don’t be home.”
Ah, one last door on my list. It’s a Republican — E.J. Giovannetti. A member of the Polk County Board of Supervisors. I don’t know him, but I know he’s going to be nothing but trouble for my progressive wife and therefore for me. Oh well.
Knock knock. “Hi, I’m Joe Weeg and . . .”
That was two decades ago.
Did you know that E.J. Giovannetti was Urbandale’s mayor for 20 years? Yup. And then after a few years off, he felt “out of the mix,” and so he ran for and was elected to 10 years with the Polk County Board of Supervisors. And during all this time, including up to today, he has devoted himself to being a member of a gazillion commissions and boards. Lord help us.
And his philosophy as a community leader?
Unlike some politicians today, I knew I didn’t know anything, and that was probably my strongest suit. But people came to the table. Everybody was there to build a community we could be proud of. We didn’t care who got credit for it. There weren’t any winners or losers.
Oh, and let’s not forget his personal life, where he took care of a very sick wife for four years until she died, raised two young kids on his own, and built a successful law practice. The guy even has a park shelter named after him in Urbandale. An enclosed one. With a kitchen.
I personally don’t like him.
Is door-knocking a punishment for some sin committed earlier in life?
“When I was on the ballot, even though I didn’t want to, I felt I had to go door knocking.”
E.J. and I talk on FaceTime because he is in Northern California when I reach out. Which means for much of the conversation I am trying to position the camera on my computer so that my neck and chin are not one long ski slope. I am unsuccessful.
“But once I got started door knocking, I got wrapped up. Most people are congenial. They may not agree; they will frequently ask you questions. But I really enjoyed it once I got started.”
Isn’t it a waste of time when you have social media and ads and public appearances?
“I think it’s really important. I knocked on doors even when I was running unopposed. People want to know that you want the job. And if you’re not out there, if they’re not seeing signs, and you’re not knocking on their doors, they think you’re not interested.”
Well, this is bad news for an avid hater of door knocking. And since E.J. wasn’t going to say he wouldn’t recommend it, I asked about politics in general.
What’s your advice to a young person going into politics today?
“You have to understand as soon as you get into public office you have accepted a public trust and with that goes the responsibility to listen to all sides, not just one side. And you need to figure out how to make it better. This will not be easy and you will not be liked by everybody. That is your contribution.”
So 20 years ago I knock on Republican E.J. Giovannetti’s door with just a bit of trepidation, to ask for his support for my Democrat wife . . .
. . . and E.J. smiled, shook my hand, invited me into his home, we had a beer, and we talked about life for over an hour. And, yes, he supported my wife. He was shockingly charming.
Yikes. A positive door knocking experience. I give up. I’m going to stop singing the door knocking blues. Although trust me, when visitors come, no matter how wonderful, I’m still going to hide in the bathroom yelling — “have they left yet?” Sorry.
Joe
Suggestion…..while hiding in the bathroom be sure to install a soft stool seat in the event the guests are tone to long goodbyes.
So………that’s why Theresa answered the door when I was a progressive door knocker……!!!!!!!
I absolutely love this, Joe. If shows that caring for your community is what’s really important, forget politics. Bravo.
It’s clear that you’ve no future as a Jehovah’s Witness. Or even a Fuller Brush salesman.
But that’s not what’s disconcerting. Just what kind of deprived Iowa childhood did you lead that didn’t include going door-to-door trick-or-treating and conning innocent elderly people into buying raffle tickets and Boy Scout peanuts, cookies or whatever they were selling?
Those were, at least for me, opportunities for a kid who wasn’t good at sports to shine. I actually rather enjoyed building up the nerve to ring a doorbell, bothering the occupants of a house, and then turning on the charm for as long as if took to get them to fork over what ever it would take to make me go away.
Nice use of the word spiel. Personally, I love a good spiel, unless it is too good, then I am immediately on guard. It is a fine line.
When I was making phone calls for Bernie Sanders I felt exactly the same way – please don’t answer please don’t answer. Then I would get someone who really wanted to have a conversation about the election and who wanted to hear what I had to say. Those were lovely moments. However, I’m right there with you in the bathroom. Thanks for making my day!!
Kaye
Joe, this story reminds me of myself. When Meredith offered me an editor’s job in NYC I said no, I’d rather live in Des Moines. They’d never heard that before but without doubt I chose the better of two options. Recently while pawing through my papers I was startled by these words from a Chapter meeting at St. Paul’s: Elvin McDonald made a motion to add a comma to our mission statement, seconded by J.G., passed unanimously. Ahh yes, the importance of a comma!
I worked for the Urbandale News, and briefly covered Urbandale city government for the Register, in the mid-90’s. Mayor Giovannetti was always very approachable and pleasant to work with. His legacy as a respected leader in our community remains secure. I am glad to hear he is going well.