T-34!!!
Thirty-four hours until the polls close!
For anyone who has campaigned before, they know these last two days are really TOUGH! Politicians would like to stay at home and recover from the campaign - - most of the events are OVER, and the campaign is ALMOST OVER, but... still two more days, so we don't stay home...we continue to campaign. Really, we just try to be out and about. See and be seen. Carry a tube of toothpaste around WalMart. Walk the aisles of Kroger. Eat at restaurants X 6.
For those who HAVEN'T campaigned before, these last two days are like.....final exams are over, but we haven't received our grades yet! :)
Regardless, I am so grateful for all the people who have helped me with the campaign. I have been so blessed to have had the very best people around me, helping me to get, and keep, this campaign off the ground.
I am reminded of a conversation with my "chairman," when I said, in frustration, "I HATE CAMPAIGNING!!!" He laughed and said, "No you don't! You totally LOVE campaigning! You're in your element when you're campaigning! Being social, talking to everyone, having fun. Campaigning is just an excuse for you to continually do the things you love to do!" He was right, of course, but doing anything (even the things we love to do) continually, for four months straight, is tiring! And, getting to the end is exciting! Especially if the end could bring about a new beginning.
Please remember to go vote at your local polling place tomorrow! Your vote matters so much on a local level. Having your chosen people in office is important.
Have a great day! Talk to you tomorrow!
Jaymie
NINETEEN!!!
NINETEEN.
Is it possible that Spring is really here and the Primary Election is only 19 days away? We're in the teens??
Possible and correct! We are on the downhill slide. Early, in-person voting starts in 6 days (on May 1), and the Primary Election will take place on May 14 - in just
days!
Enjoy your Thursday, everyone. Make it great!
-Jaymie
Register to Vote!!
Hello everyone! What a busy, fun campaign this has been. There are only SEVEN days remaining until early, in person voting begins, and Election Day is three weeks from today!!! It's been great meeting so many new people and reconnecting with others.
Before heading off to court in Romney County this morning, I wanted to mention that TODAY, April 23, is the last day to register to vote in the Primary Election. For the Circuit Judge race, the Primary Election is THE election. If you haven't yet registered to vote, there is still a little bit of time to do so, and with today's technology, it's easier than ever. If you're still "old school," like me, don't worry - the Randolph County Clerk's office can still register you, in person, today. But don't delay, because today is the last day to get registered! If you think you're registered, but you haven't voted in a long time (or ever), and you want to vote in the Primary Election, you should verify your registration with the Randolph County Clerk early enough that you can register if you learn you are not registered.
According to the West Virginia Secretary of State's website, you can apply to register to vote online (www.wvsos.gov). You can apply to register to vote, in person, at the Randolph County Clerk's office in the Randolph County Courthouse on Randolph Avenue in Elkins. And, you can apply to register to vote by mail, as is described on the West Virginia Secretary of State’s website (www.wvsos.gov). (I'm not sure if the "register by mail" option means the application must be postmarked by April 23, or it means the West Virginia Secretary of State must receive the application by April 23 - the West Virginia Secretary of State's office can tell you this, and other information.)
Alright - time to hit the road! Have a great, productive day - - and get yourself (and/or your friends and family) registered to vote!!!
Jaymie
April 11, 2024
Did you know.....the West Virginia Primary Election will be here before you know it?? Only 33 more days until Election Day!
Did you ALSO know...the races for Circuit Judge will take place during the West Virginia Primary Election only?? These races are non-partisan. That means we should know who the winners are on May 14, 2024!
Are you registered to vote? If not, there's still time! If you, or someone you know, hasn't registered to vote, and you want to vote in the West Virginia Primary Election, there’s still time to register - - but the deadline to register (April 23, 2024) is close! You can register to vote online (www.wvsos.gov). If you are a resident of Randolph County, you can register to vote in person at the Randolph County Clerk's office in the main courthouse at 2 Randolph Avenue, Elkins. You can register by mail, as is described on the West Virginia Secretary of State’s website (www.wvsos.gov).
GO VOTE!!!!!
February 22, 2024
THURSDAY! My favorite day of the week. I do really love Thursdays.
The days and weeks are sailing by. Matt and I have been busy working on the campaign...doing a lot of behind-the-scenes stuff, getting the signs together, putting up signs, fixing signs that come down, organizing lists, organizing volunteers, building advertisements, etc. I think this is why the days and weeks are sailing by! Only 81 days until Election Day! (Not that I'm counting...)
I didn't want the day to end without posting a short hello and update about the campaign. People have been so kind and willing to help (and I'm going to take them up on their offers to help, too!). I am so grateful for everyone who has reached out to offer their help. Randolph is such a huge county. Having help and support in all parts of the county is really important!
Earlier this week, the Randolph County Clerk randomly selected the listing order for the candidates of each contest. With luck, I was drawn out of the hat first, so my name will be at the top of the list of four candidates. As my mom always said, "LUCK IS GOOD!" :) Surely, we can agree upon that!
One of my friends asked me today why I decided to run again for judge. She and I were not acquainted when I last served as Circuit Judge for Randolph County. We talked for a little bit, and I explained some of the reasons I decided to again ask the voters to elect me. She told me I still had "the heart and mind of a judge." I don't know how she was able to articulate what I have been feeling so exactly, but she nailed it in 7 simple words. The heart and mind of a judge. Being a judge is not an "easy, carefree" duty. Not many people understand the challenges you face on a typical, run-of-the-mill Tuesday. Once you have served in this capacity though - - once you have been a judge - - you know whether you're cut out for it, or not. In my heart and mind, I know I am.
As the weather allows us, you'll start seeing more and more signs come up over the next few weeks. If you'd like a sign in your yard or at your business, you can easily request that right through this site. We are happy to plant one for you!
Enjoy the last weekend of February! I look forward to seeing you out on the campaign trail this weekend!
Jaymie
HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!
I figured it was time to start the blog on the website. Only 89 days until the election! (Not that I'm counting...) As I take a break to write this, I'm looking out the window and seeing snow I didn't expect to see today. That's fine with me - I LOVE the snow - but I'm also thinking about the weather here in Randolph County and wondering what the next few months will be like, weather-wise.
This is my third campaign. I ran in 2002 to be Family Court Judge of Randolph, Tucker, and Grant counties. I also ran in 2008 to be Randolph County Circuit Court Judge (this is the position I am running for now!). I was fortunate to be successful in both of those elections. It has, however, been FIFTEEN years since I've campaigned. So much has changed in the way we campaign over those fifteen years. Fifteen years ago, I didn't have a Facebook account. We didn't rely so heavily on social media. Signs were a huge part of the campaign, but we didn't put them out until early March. All of that (and more) has changed. As for the part about the signs, in the past, no one really put them up before early March because of the crazy Randolph County weather. When it rains, snows, and/or Old Man Wind blows, the signs take a beating, and they get knocked down by the elements, so we would put them up later. THIS YEAR, campaign signs were already front and center in January. And, when one set of signs go up, you can be sure other sets of signs will go up.
Although there are only a few signs up for our campaign right now, two or three of those have already been hit by weather, so I'll be sending my Valentine Husband out this week to better secure them - because I hear we might be getting even more of this crazy weather this week and next!
As more and more of our signs go up - and with Randolph County being so huge - it is hard to keep an eye on the condition of the signs every day. If you'd like to "informally help" me and my campaign, please call my office (304-637-4761) if you see a sign that looks like it needs our help. That would really help us as we try to keep the signs looking good and, well, off the ground! :) Thank you in advance!
Break time is over, and it's time for me to get back to my day job. I'll campaign this evening, after work. One thing I fully remember from my last two campaigns - campaign season is super busy, but also super fun. Campaigning gives me an excuse to visit people all around the county, catch up with old friends, make new friends, attend fun activities, and remember why I want to be your Circuit Court Judge AGAIN. This is a great place. When I graduated from law school in 1995, I knew I wanted to return to my home county. I always knew I wanted to make a positive difference in Randolph County. As Circuit Court Judge, I have the opportunity to do just that.
I hope you all enjoy Valentine's Day. Spend time with your loves - family, friends, and those perfectly special pets who are living their best lives in your home! Until next time....
Jaymie
