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Representative Melony Bell: Campaigning Door to Door, Florida
This snapshot was gathered in conjunction with the Museum on Main Street program at the Smithsonian Institution and its "Stories from Main Street" initiative. The project is intended to capture Americans' impressions and stories about their small-town and rural neighborhoods, waterways, personal memories, cultural traditions, work histories, and thoughts about American democracy. This story is from a group of narratives inspired by the Smithsonian traveling exhibition, "Voices and Votes: Democracy in America."
Melanie Bell (00:00): Well, when I was campaigning this last time for 19 months for a State House seat, I did a lot of canvassing. We have an app that we use that, as I said, Republicans and we know how many times somebody has voted. And if I go to that house, I'm going to that home to knock on their door because I know they voted in the last two elections. There's no need to go to a home because you're just wasting your time. And if I have over 10,000 houses to hit within this certain amount of time, I don't want to waste my time.
(00:29): And when I was out campaigning this last time for the State House, I knocked on a lady's door and it was a Saturday morning and she was watching the funeral of Barbara Bush. And she came to the door with tears in her eyes and she said, "You have to come in and you have to see this. This is the most amazing funeral and a tribute to Barbara Bush's life." So I have all of my campaign volunteers outside, and I said, "Hang on one minute, let me go inside." And so I ended up sitting with her for two and a half hours, and she was by herself, and I just had an obligation there that I just could not leave her because it was America.
(01:07): It was paying tribute to a wonderful woman that brought literacy to our country and the whole family. And so I had all of my campaign workers sitting out there waiting on me in the car while I sat next to this lady and cried with her for two and a half hours because she was so patriotic and loved our country.
(01:27): And so that probably was ... I told that story last week. But people appreciate a knock on the door and appreciate you telling them who you are and what your platform is. Even though I have people that said, "I went and voted because you knocked on my door." So, it means a lot.
Asset ID: 2022.37.12.d
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By The PealeThis snapshot was gathered in conjunction with the Museum on Main Street program at the Smithsonian Institution and its "Stories from Main Street" initiative. The project is intended to capture Americans' impressions and stories about their small-town and rural neighborhoods, waterways, personal memories, cultural traditions, work histories, and thoughts about American democracy. This story is from a group of narratives inspired by the Smithsonian traveling exhibition, "Voices and Votes: Democracy in America."
Melanie Bell (00:00): Well, when I was campaigning this last time for 19 months for a State House seat, I did a lot of canvassing. We have an app that we use that, as I said, Republicans and we know how many times somebody has voted. And if I go to that house, I'm going to that home to knock on their door because I know they voted in the last two elections. There's no need to go to a home because you're just wasting your time. And if I have over 10,000 houses to hit within this certain amount of time, I don't want to waste my time.
(00:29): And when I was out campaigning this last time for the State House, I knocked on a lady's door and it was a Saturday morning and she was watching the funeral of Barbara Bush. And she came to the door with tears in her eyes and she said, "You have to come in and you have to see this. This is the most amazing funeral and a tribute to Barbara Bush's life." So I have all of my campaign volunteers outside, and I said, "Hang on one minute, let me go inside." And so I ended up sitting with her for two and a half hours, and she was by herself, and I just had an obligation there that I just could not leave her because it was America.
(01:07): It was paying tribute to a wonderful woman that brought literacy to our country and the whole family. And so I had all of my campaign workers sitting out there waiting on me in the car while I sat next to this lady and cried with her for two and a half hours because she was so patriotic and loved our country.
(01:27): And so that probably was ... I told that story last week. But people appreciate a knock on the door and appreciate you telling them who you are and what your platform is. Even though I have people that said, "I went and voted because you knocked on my door." So, it means a lot.
Asset ID: 2022.37.12.d