Editor’s Note: This is the eighth installment of “Our Stories,” a new WOW Dems series dedicated to telling personal stories related to the critical issues of our time – beginning with the COVID-19 crisis. Please note that sharing candidates’ perspectives is not an endorsement by WOW Dems.
By Courtney Brooks, Candidate for Collin County Commissioner, Precinct 1
As a mom of eight, I’m used to things coming out of the blue, plans changing, and altering my life to do whatever needs to be done. However, when Covid-19 struck, I wasn’t prepared at all. I knew I wanted to keep my family and community safe, but life was about to change drastically.
Campaigning was a great new event in my life. I have never run for office before, so everything was fresh and fun. I was meeting new and interesting people from the many meetings I attended. I loved all of the meetings and forums, including WOW Dems, Moms Demand Action, Liberal Women’s Action Network, League of Women Voters, Plano Area Dems, McKinney Dems, Frisco Democratic Club, and so many more. I found places with like-minded people I enjoy interacting with, and I was ready to continue after winning the primary in early March. That’s when the coronavirus struck, and everything came to a screeching halt.
Courtney Brooks
Trying to navigate what to do next was tough for me and my campaign manager, Ann Grannan. It’s an unprecedented time, even for the most skilled candidates and teams. A lot of groups started doing Zoom meetings, which have been great; I participated in one with Collin County Commissioners Court candidate Dianne Mayo. The socializing has been a great way to keep the campaign moving, but I’m definitely missing the in-person connection.
I’ve tried to stay in touch with my Facebook followers, providing them with daily updates on the crisis in our community. I have been speaking out against Collin County Judge Chris Hill’s orders, which I believe put our community at unnecessary risk. My campaign’s also been focusing on reaching Independent voters – those who don’t necessarily lean one way or the other. We have a list from the primary database of the Secretary of State, so we are using that to find constituents to whom we can mail postcards. It is also a time where asking for donations is a no-go, with people hurting due to loss of income and the stress that comes with the pandemic alone. Asking for money seems gross. But, that means less money to campaign with, so I haven’t been able to make commercials or have as many campaign materials as I had hoped to have by now. But with time, I know that it will come.
This pandemic has brought a lot more family time for me, which I love. My husband is considered an essential employee, so the kids and I have been in close quarters for weeks. I have found that I am not meant to be a teacher, and as someone who fully supported teachers before this pandemic, I cannot give them enough credit for all that they do.
However, I am grateful that I have been able to be home with my children and able to help them through this crazy time. My business has slowed as I am an in-home child care provider, so I have lost clients due to business furloughs. I hope it will pick back up soon enough, but for now, I’m happy to be safe at home.
Times like these are tough on everyone. We’ve all had to make sacrifices – some more than others – but we are all in this together. I have hope that I will be able to campaign in person again sooner rather than later, but only if it becomes safe enough for that to happen. Until then, I hope to see everyone virtually!