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A realistic look at my electoral history

By Scott Tibbs, November 9, 2015

I am sure I am going to hear a lot about the fact that I only got 3.3% of all voters to write my name in for city council. But before we get into that, we should take a look at previous election results where I actually was on the ballot:

  • 2004 primary election: 942 votes 15%, delegate to state convention (One seat elected countywide in a three way race.)
  • 2006 primary election: 526 votes Bloomington Township Board. (That is 63.68% of the people who voted in the township trustee race)
  • 2006 general election: 1985 votes, Bloomington Township Board. (That is 28% of the people who voted in the township trustee race)
  • 2008 primary election: 490 votes, delegate to state convention.
  • 2010 primary election: 1230 votes, delegate to state convention.
  • 2012 primary election: 665 votes, delegate to state convention.

When all is said and done, 3.3% of all ballots cast is not bad for someone whose name was not on the ballot - especially since I spent less than $20 on my self-funded campaign. By running as a write-in I created extra work for voters who had to remember my name and write my name in. If I had it to do over again I would have filed to run in the Republican Party caucus, where I would have been nominated. Had I been on the ballot, I would have probably ran even with Republican at-large candidate Jennifer Mickel.

I am planning on running for both delegate to the 2016 state party convention and precinct committeeman in 2016, where I expect I will do a whole lot better than getting 3.3% of the vote since I will actually be on the ballot. More thoughts on the 2015 city election will be coming on Wednesday.