One of the many benefits to traveling during election season is being spared the barrage of attack ads on the nation's airwaves. But there is no avoiding reading about the partisan charges and counter charges about who is spending how much money on these ads and where the money is coming from. The DISCLOSE Act and Citizens United have been major topics on the road.
On Friday, the League of Women Voters of South Carolina launched an ambitious project to increase diversity in the South Carolina courts. Between a keynote address calling for judicial independence and accountability and an important reminder that achieving independence, accountability and diversity will take time and effort from Bert Brandenburg of Justice At Stake, three diverse panels of legislators and academics discussed the issues facing the justice system in South Carolina.
The day I spent in the Cleveland area this week was action packed with a live radio talk show, an editorial board meeting and a great meeting with Cuyahoga county election officials. Then it was on to Columbus where I had a front row seat for the taping of a debate between two candidates for Ohio's supreme court. It was a real pleasure to see that both candidates are women. The taping was at the public television studios on the campus of Ohio State.
It's early in the morning in Cleveland, Ohio. Lake Erie, the Browns stadium and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame are just a few blocks away. At dinner last night League members in the Cleveland area shared their hall of fame activities. Cuyahoga County government has been beset with ethics issues rising to the level of criminal prosecutions. The League, however, has risen above the fray and worked, successfully, to recreate a new county government structure.
Whew! I arrived in Madison, Wisconsin late Thursday evening and by noon Friday, I had talked with the head of the state government accountability board, taped an interview for Wisconsin Eye, and spoken with a reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel newspaper. Oh, did I mention that on the way to a League training, I spoke to a reporter in Wichita, Kansas about voter ID?
But the highlight of the day was the afternoon with League members talking and training about membership and leadership.