I usually don't take just one time of the year to make resolutions or reflect back on a whole year at a time, instead trying to self-assess/reflect/evaluate/create goals as I go along. That way I can at least make attempts to check myself regularly instead of waiting for the end/beginning of each year.

Today I thought, though, I'd look at things I personally think I did well in 2006. This is not an all inclusive list, but what I can think of off the top of my head today.

In 2006 I:

did a better job at keeping informed by using blogging as a medium to do so.

ran for office.

improved in looking towards "tomorrow" and not agonizing over past events and occurences - especially those where I was the target of mean-spiritedness.

was better at "letting go" of things over which I had no control.

was able to successfully teach others how to communicate effectively with people - particularly in cases where there was a lack of appropriate communication skills

was able to realize that a holier-than-thou attitude towards people who shop at Wal-Mart isn't the answer to helping effect a change. Examples effect change. Recognizing that low incomes and lack of resources for people to consume fairly are the problems, as well as corporate monopoly. Change takes time and my little part is to live by example and not to preach but to educate in compassionate ways.

took things less personally than I have in my past.

attended two national actions aimed at changing the political climate in our country.

attended and got arrested at a national action aimed at stopping a test at the test site in NV.

did a really good job at taking over a very difficult position at my work. A state audit of my files was very positive an confirming that I am doing it right!

continued shopping at thrift stores and dumpsters. I made most of my own gifts or bought them from fair trade and/or locally owned/made sources.

supported my son when he found out he was going to be a father.

became a proud grandmother.

I hope to be able to continue to improve my life this coming year by walking the talk - and by so doing, improving the lives of others and our planet as well.

Today's Deseret News has a piece on Candidates Spending.

Sometimes candidates do unusual things with the hard-earned donations that they often say are needed desperately to get out their message.
That includes paying for the candidate's cable TV at home.
Or for hiring the candidate's relatives.
Or paying to fix the candidate's car.
Or buying gifts. Or a lot of food.
Or even for giving large chunks of money away to others.
Utah candidates for Congress have done all of that and more this election cycle, according to disclosure forms. Such spending comes as some candidates try to economize even by declaring that paid workers are contractors to avoid payroll taxes.

You can see financial disclosures at these sites:

Federal Election Commission

Utah Elections Site

Salt Lake County Clerk

View other Utah Counties

I just completed the 2006 League of Women Voters Online Candidate Questionnaire. Here are the questions and my answers (I kept my answers as brief as possible):

Candidate Background Information:
Occupation:
( Read more... )
Education:
( Read more... )
Prior Experience:
( Read more... )
Questions posed to candidate:
1. Would you encourage new communities to incorporate or develop within the county? Why?
( Read more... )
2. How do you see county government services such as health, recreation, law enforcement and fire protection being delivered in the future? Should they be provided by the county only or by the county and municipalities as is the case now?
( Read more... )
3. What kind of problems do you see in the area of planning and zoning as the county is more and more fractured and more development is occurring in the foothills and canyons?
( Read more... )

More info can be seen at my campaign website

Articles appearing in today's News about Utah Legislature

Salt Lake Tribune
Huntsman vetoes 3 more bills: Measures potentially unfair, unconstitutional, he says
Breaking: Huntsman vetoes bonding, parental control bills (includes links to other articles about the governor's bill-signing)

Deseret News
Huntsman nixes 3 bills, 4 budgetary line items: The vetoes include road funds, parent rights bills
Stadium-funding options limited? Legislature wanted hotel tax funds used, Horiuchi says

Articles appearing in today's News about Utah Legislature

Salt Lake Tribune
With guv's signature, Lori's Law now official--In honor of murder victim: It upgrades minimum for first-degree felony murder from five years to 15 years
Huntsman stalls on big bills: He leaves many controversial bills until last, as clock ticks


Deseret News
Huntsman to decide fate of 30 bills today
Utahns fail quiz on own legislators
Utahns support Huntsman tax plan, removal of the food tax
Veto of lands bill sought
Huntsman signs bill to reduce food tax

Earlier today I wrote about my experience filing for office and promised an update and a surprise. Here is the update for the Desert Greens 2006 slate of candidates:

Julian Hatch filed today for U.S. Senate. Running in that race are also Pete Ashdown (D), Scott N. Bradley (Constitution), Orrin G. Hatch (R), Brian E. Jenkins (R), Joseph Labonte (Personal Choice), Roger I. Price (Personal Choice), Michael T. Ridgway (R), and Dave Starr Seely (Libertarian).

Chuck Tripp file for County Council at Large (C). Running in that race are also Don W. Johnstun (Libertarian), Jimmy L. Cadman (Personal Choice), Jim Bradley (D), Janice Auger (R),

In the Salt Lake County Council Race that I am running in (District #5)these people are also running:
Nate Hendricks (D), Russell A. Cannon (R), Cortlund G. Ashton (R), and Jeff Allen (R).

In the race for State House Distrcit #43 (Tom King), these people are also running:
Wayne A. Harper (R), Mark Faux (Constitution).

Now for the surpise:

Kathy Dopp will be running of Summit County Clerk. Also running are Susan Follett (D) and Cindy LoPiccolo (D), which means after the primary, there will be a Democract and a Desert Green.

Kathy Dopp is nationally known for her work on the Investigation pf the Accuracy of Elections, with regards to Diebold, and has the website,
Utah Counts Votes. She wants to attempt to win the Summit County Clerk seat so that she can prove the inaccuracy of the Diebold Voting Equipment. This would quite a victory for voters and for Greens.

Go Green! More updates in a couple of days.