
Lake County Board member Carissa Casbon first really popped up on my radar because of her Facebook page. Why? Because she shared useful stuff! Job fairs & local events, her page was always active with the nuts & bolts of serving her constituents. Heck, I still go to her website for connecting to a state agency because it is the easiest link to find!
I slowly began noticing this tenacious advocate everywhere. Boasting a head of bright ginger hair and a wide grin, one could underestimate her. I have learned that would be unwise. Because beyond her warmth, there is a steely-eyed warrior.
Carissa feels like Lake County’s Katie Porter. She’s focused on kitchen table issues. She hammers away to provide pragmatic results to real problems. Her website is filled with specifics. What she has done. What she believes. When I research a candidate, I don’t want buzz words and generalities. I want specific plans and concrete accomplishments around topics like fiscal responsibility, healthcare, community services, veteran’s services, schools & education, safety and security, infrastructure, zoning, floodplain, environment. I want to see a long list of endorsements from established public servants and reputable organizations. She’s got all that.
I don’t see anyone outworking her either. If she’s not going door-to-door, talking to constituents (check out her animal-centric canvassing posts. They are a delight!), then she’s showing up at local events, organizations’ fundraisers, supporting other candidates, and promoting exposure and support for Lake County constituents and businesses.
Is she perfect? Of course not! But “perfect” doesn’t exist. We are all human, flawed and messy. For example, I think Carissa may occasionally piss people off. She has the ability of telling truth to power (more notes of Katie Porter!) Sometimes that can cause waves. But we need truth tellers. Especially in this political climate. The stakes are too high for fluffing and prevaricating. In the rough and tumble world of politics, I want a representative who advocates loudly. Who nudges and pushes, who stands up for her constituents, for our community. To defend democracy at every level of government I believe we need honorable, ethical public servants. But these days, those same people need to be scrappy fighters as well. Tough and tenacious advocates for all of us. Like I said: Fire & Nice!