Citizen of the Week: Ted Nixon
Ted Nixon might look like a mild-mannered Junior High French teacher, but beneath that calm exterior there lies a political animal. I’ve known Ted for a long time, and he’s always been someone I looked up to. He was a leader in my old church, and was always outspoken about our church leading the way in progressive social causes.
In his past life Ted was a big player in the radio business, but the rat race took a toll on him mentally and physically. He chose instead to take his life one day at a time, and after getting on his feet again he decided to pursue a lifelong passion and became a teacher. To my great joy he chose the district I work in.
Anywhere I go in progressive local politics, Ted is there. As I boarded the bus for New Hampshire Primaryto stump for Howard Dean back in 2003, Ted was there with a contingent of Dean For America well-wishers who were minding the home front the weekend after Dean’s fatal “barbaric yalp” after the Iowa caucus. Anybody in our county who has anything to do with the Democratic Party or progressive causes knows Ted and his wife Kathy.
A couple years ago Ted ran for the County Legislature. It was a valiant effort, but Ted lives in a suburb of entrenched, smug Republicans seemingly welded to the “business of the county is business” status quo. He lost the race, but he’s back in the race again. This time, thanks to term limits the incumbent is going into retirement.
I try to present my students with role models as often as possible, and it’s wonderful to see the looks on their faces when I present their middle school French teacher alongside Teddy Roosevelt and Robert LaFollette. It’s one of the many wonderful facets to Ted Nixon’s slow, quiet quest to make the world a better place.
To catch the news, and/or help Ted’s campaign, visit his website at tednixon.com.
COMMENT!
Technorati Tags: New Hampshire Primary, Howard Dean, Dean For America, Iowa caucus, Democratic Party, County Legislature, Republicans, Teddy Roosevelt, Robert LaFollette
Filed under: Politics, Citizen of the Week on May 9th, 2007
I met Ted through the local Dean campaign back in 2003 and I have to agree he is an excellent example of a good citizen.