Life after the vote count

Denisa Superville of the Herald News called me last week while I was still in Dakar to talk about the hard yet fun times of being a challenger candidate up against a tough incumbent, which I certainly know plenty about! Today's paper featured some of my comments, alongside discussion of this year's race in District 36.

Here are some parts of the article in which I was featured:

"It's just the belief in the democratic process," said George Ajjan, who mounted an unsuccessful campaign in 2004 as the Republican candidate against Congressman Bill Pascrell Jr. "Just as economic monopolies are bad for consumers, political monopolies are bad for the voters. When there is no challenger out there giving a different perspective on the incumbent's record, then the incumbent is free to hide his shortcomings and overemphasize his successes."

Despite the apparent long odds, underdog candidates should never be taken lightly, Ajjan said. "You never know when lightning strikes, you never know when your opponent gets indicted. And if you're well-positioned, you can ride a tidal wave into office."

Ajjan is proof that there is life after the vote count. Although he lost to Pascrell by more than 89,000 votes, he now hosts a popular Web Site, georgeajjan.com, on which he propounds on state and international politics, and his writings have appeared in many publications.

All weekend in Dearborn, people were anxiously asking me when I would be running again. Denisa asked me as well during our interview if I planned on being a candidate again.

My reply:

"I'm sure you'll see my name on a ballot again one of these days..." ;)