“As long as my shoe leather holds out and the weather stays clear,” says Jim B. Clarke, “I plan to walk every precinct I can get into in Culver City.”
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Council candidate Jim B. Clarke with Dep. City Clerk Ela Valladeres
The City Council candidate plans “to be very visible” because until he filed a month ago for the April 10 election, he had chosen a career where he played a secondary role to main political stars.
‘I am not bashful about going up to people and introducing myself, tell them I am running and seeing what they have to say,” Mr. Clarke says.
Next weekend, 75 days before the election, he will open his door-to-door campaign because this weekend he is busy. Tomorrow, from 2 to 4, he will host a fundraiser at the Westside Peace Center, 3916 Sepulveda Blvd., just north of Washington Place.
While getting used to his new role, Mr. Clarke’s mind flashes back 34 years, to 1978, when he ran for the Democratic Party County Central Committee.
“It was the 49th Assembly District in those days, covering Culver City and part of Marine del Rey,” he says. “I wanted to know what it was like to be a candidate.
“Let me tell you, there were a lot of surprised people who opened their doors, because they had no idea what the Central Committee was.
“People would say, ‘I never have seen a candidate like this come to my door.’
“I have been in lots of campaigns since then, but always on behalf of candidates instead of being one. I have scars from dog fights from walking precincts. I also have walked precincts at night in some scary areas.”
If a stranger approaches and wants to shake hands, it may be Mr. Clarke.
Mr. Clarke may be contacted at JimClarke4CulverCityCouncil@gmail.com