That, of course, is based on the assumption that you are thinking of the same rumour that I am thinking of.
The rumour I am thinking of is the rumour that I have withdrawn from my run as an independent candidate in the upcoming federal election. I’m too late to prevent stupid comments like “I do not think he was ever serious about running for the House of Reps” from “act”, and I would be very surprised if I don’t receive a bunch of similar comments from the usual suspects over the coming days (if you don’t know who I’m referring to, consider yourself lucky).
Anyway, the mail main reason for my withdrawal from candidature is a lack of support. Despite the handful of people who have put their hand up to sign my nomination form this week, I am still well short of the required fifty signatures. At the beginning of the week, when I made this decision, I was short of twenty signatures, and had about a week to get just over 30 more.
It wasn’t impossible, but at that stage, with a couple other minor issues getting in the way (issues that I could have overcome but were just incredibly inconvenient and poorly timed), and the fact that I have non-refundable bookings for a week-long holiday in Sydney next week that I booked nearly two months ago, I decided that the best option for me, and for Fraser, was for me to withdraw from the race.
Another thing which really hit home on Sunday whilst I was standing outside Government House waiting for the Prime Minister to arrive and meet the Governor-General, was that as much as I was telling myself that I was there as a candidate to witness an historic event, I couldn’t shake the fact that I was there as a journalist (and before any of the usual suspects get started, no, not just for this website). I enjoy journalism, I enjoy being a caller on talkback radio, and oddly, I like the little bit of anonymity that affords me. These things just don’t mix with politics.
I’m certainly not going to rule out a shot at the ACT election next year, but I’m not committing to it at this stage either. In many ways I am very disappointed with this decision to withdraw, and I would only commit to another run for office if I was able to be sure that I would stay right through to the election, and then (if I should be so fortunate) the four year term of office which might follow it.
I have learnt a lot from the last month or so. It has been a very worthwhile experience, and whilst I had a fair deal of respect for politicians before all of this, my respect for them (even if I disagree with a lot of them) has increased quite a bit.
I will take this website out of campaign mode shortly, but I suppose I should probably pre-empt one more question first, why did it take me so long to make my decision public if I made up my mind on Sunday? Simply so that I could inform a number of people who have been very supportive of me first. One of them did not get back in to town until yesterday, and I wanted to be sure that he knew before I made the announcement.
For those of you who are interested, the campaign website has been archived and can still be accessed at http://samuelgordonstewart.com/independent/ [1]
Any (sensible) questions, please feel free to ask.
Samuel
Comments Disabled To "The Rumour Is True!"
#1 Comment By Pen 15 On October 19, 2007 @ 12:31 am
The nation is poorer for it, Sam.
From where I sit though, it looks like you went into this either unaware or ignorant of how much work was required, and using the lack of signatures and your trip to Sydney as an excuse.
The reason i say that is that it is pretty easy to get 30 signatures. Just go down to your local shopping centre, and you’d have had them all in a morning. As for you already-planned trip to Sydney…if you were deadly serious about running you’d cut your losses and take your trip another time.
Not trying to have a go at you, Sam, just another example of how appearances are important! What is this Sydney trip for, anyway? Business or pleasure?
#2 Comment By The Editor On October 19, 2007 @ 5:17 pm
That’s a shame, Samuel. Although I think you’ve made the right decision if you think you can’t give the campaign 100%. Perhaps you could spend the next three years getting ready for a full-strength tilt in 2010?
#3 Comment By John999555 On October 20, 2007 @ 7:35 am
Sorry I couldn’t help out with the signatures Samuel, but I undertook not to have anymore to do with politics a couple of months ago.
#4 Comment By Samuel On October 20, 2007 @ 11:59 am
Pen, there is a lot of truth in what you have said. I admit that I did not allocate enough time to the campaign, and it was probably foolish of me to think I could run a campaign whilst maintaining a full-time job on a rotating roster. As I said, I’ve learnt a lot from this, and I will definitely organise things different if I choose to run for parliament next time.
Funding was another issue though. To fund the campaign I would have needed a bank loan…and that was not forthcoming, and dealing with a few other organisations was painfully slow, which delayed many other things.
I will know better next time.
My trip to Sydney is a “pleasure” trip, and there will be plenty of photos and information about it on this blog throughout next week. I’ve purchased an [2] Internet connection for my trip, so I have no excuse for not posting regularly.
Ed, it is disappointing, but it’s the right decision. At this stage I think the legislative assembly is a better option, but it’s all some time off, and I’ll decide closer to the date.
John, fair enough, and you don’t live in Fraser anyway, so you wouldn’t have been able to provide a signature if you wanted to.
#5 Comment By John999555 On October 21, 2007 @ 9:55 am
Right !
#6 Comment By act On October 21, 2007 @ 1:12 pm
Sam,
Those are piss weak and lame excuses. You were NEVER serious about running.
With the support of your favourite radio station giving you lots of free airplay and coverage you can’t even get the signatures you need? More concerned about a holiday for yourself than representing the interests of the electorate of Fraser?
I think its more a case of you are not prepared to get off you butt and do some actual campaign work.
Yes, the people of Fraser are better off not having you contest the election. Leave the real work to the grown-ups.
My suggestion is that you should not bother trying to run for the ACT election next year… you have already blown any credibility with the electorate you may have had.
#7 Comment By Samuel On October 21, 2007 @ 2:31 pm
You’re either a mind reader or a psychic, and as usual for that crowd you are wrong. Either that or you’re mistaking your views for the truth.
You can’t see inside my head and find out whether or not I was ever serious about running, and yet for some strange reason you make a statement presenting your opinion of what happened inside my head, as a fact.
I’m not going to try and convince you that I was serious about running because, as much as I know it is the truth, you won’t believe me, and it would be a waste of my time.
For what it’s worth, if I had enough signatures, I would not be going to Sydney this week.
The other bit of your comment I have an issue with is:
You, despite your username, are not the entire electorate, and unless you are the existing member of Fraser, you have not been elected to represent the electorate, and therefore can not speak on their behalf. I have obviously lost any credibility I had with you (which I doubt was much to start with), but you need to remember that you are one person, not 118,065 people (as the AEC points out were enrolled in Fraser for the 2004 election).
I have no problems with the rest of your comment. It’s your opinion and I think, and in some cases know, that you’re wrong, and it would be a waste of my time to try and convince you of that.
In the meantime, I’m going to enjoy my week, I suggest you try to do the same.
#8 Comment By Tony On October 23, 2007 @ 2:27 am
There is no hurry to go into politics Samuel and if you feel the same way in time, go for it mate.
I think you would make a good MP but I also think you are too young for now and as for those knocking you, they are just jealous and envious of your drive.
Enjoy your youth mate, it only comes around once.