Sean Davis for Astoria

Saturday morning started with weeds.

I joined the Astoria Downtown Historic District Association downtown and brought my friend Josh Davis, director of Virtue at the Point, along with his daughters. Janet assigned us Duane Street from 12th to 16th, pulling weeds out of every crack we could find in the sidewalks and street.

It was real work, the kind that reminds you pretty quickly that bending over isn’t as easy as it used to be. But everywhere I looked, there were people from our community doing the same thing.

That is something I keep coming back to: Astoria is rich in good people.

Afterward, I hurried over to our weekly veterans’ Dog Walk and spent some time talking with folks while we enjoyed the Riverwalk.

That evening, Kelly and I traded work clothes for something considerably nicer and headed to the Liberty Gala. It was a wonderful night. I spoke with donors and business owners, but I also made a point of talking with the volunteers, staff, and workers who were making the evening happen. Those are the people behind so much of what works in Astoria. Kelly and I contributed what we could to the fundraiser and had a terrific evening together.

Sunday brought me back to American Legion Post 12, where I called BINGO.

I tell bad jokes. The crowd tolerates them because eventually I call a number they need.

More importantly, BINGO helps keep the lights on and helps maintain the building that has served generations of veterans and families. Candidates are certainly welcome to come call BINGO too. And, remarkably, the Post even accepts volunteers during years when nobody is running for anything.

Monday, I met with Maureen from the Senior Center and volunteered to give a military history talk there in March. I’ve taught writing classes and given talks at the Senior Center before, and it’s something I value deeply. Community involvement shouldn’t begin when someone files for office, and it shouldn’t end when an election is over.

Tuesday morning began with Veterans’ Coffee at the American Legion.

We had a new face this week, another veteran experiencing homelessness whom we’re trying to help get back on his feet. This time, that meant talking through employment opportunities and places he could look for work.

Dan, a state veteran employment specialist, joins us most weeks for coffee. That’s one of the things I love about what this little group is becoming. Some people walk through the door because they need help. Others walk through because they have help to give.

Increasingly, they are finding each other.

At noon, I met with Steve, a new friend and former political science professor, to go through campaign messaging and data. His wife also taught political science, and they are among the many people I’ve met during this campaign who have offered their knowledge and time.

That has probably been one of the biggest surprises of this whole experience.

I knew running for mayor would require a tremendous amount of work. What I didn’t anticipate was how many people I would meet who care deeply about civic life and want to contribute their experience simply because they believe participation matters. I’m grateful for every one of them.

Later today, I’m meeting with a former Astoria city manager to learn more about the amendment process for ballot measures and discuss other city issues. I’ve spent months meeting with department heads, community organizations, workers, business owners, elected officials, and people with years of institutional knowledge for one simple reason: I want to understand the job and the problems facing Astoria as thoroughly as I can.

Tomorrow, I’ll step away from campaign work for a while to teach online writing classes serving wounded veterans through programs connected to the Wounded Warrior Project and the Writers Guild Initiative. We’ll write about difficult experiences, tell stories, and build some camaraderie along the way.

Campaigning takes up a lot of my life these days. But veterans were part of my life long before this campaign, and making time for them still matters.

This week has been weeds in sidewalk cracks, dogs on the Riverwalk, BINGO balls, veteran coffee, conversations about city government, and writing with people who served.

Different problems require different tools. Sometimes leadership means studying the complicated stuff. Sometimes it means listening to somebody who knows more than you do. And sometimes it means showing up with gloves and pulling weeds.

That’s the work.

Active leadership starts with being present, listening, learning, and doing the work in front of you.

Let’s Get to Work.