Allen Countians got a preview of the Aug. 4 primary election ballot in Thursday’s edition of The Register. 
Of the dozens of names, two things stand out: The number of either uncontested races or those completely lacking candidates and the dearth of women candidates.
The issues overlap.
On a positive note is that Michelle Meiwes and Alana Cloutier have signed up to run. Meiwes, rural Moran, is vying for a seat on the Allen County Commission. Cloutier, Humboldt, is running for the state legislature.
To their immediate benefit is that as Democrats, neither faces opposition in their primary races.
Come fall, the political landscape will change drastically as they work to get their stories out.
FOR THE LAST several weeks I’ve been captivated by the book “Pelosi,” about the venerable — and controversial — Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House of Representatives, by Time magazine’s Molly Ball.
A native of Baltimore, Pelosi grew up in a politically active family. Her father was Baltimore mayor for 12 years and served in Congress. Her mother served as his de facto campaign manager.
Pelosi had her sights on studying law, but “life happened,” in terms of marriage and children. She was a stay-at-home mother until her youngest was a senior in high school. “I could never could get a babysitter — have five kids in six years and no one wants to come to your house,” she said.
It wasn’t until she was 46 that she ran for Congress, then living in San Francisco.
Pelosi refers to serving in public office as her “Act II” in life and puts it on par with the challenges of motherhood.
Pelosi acknowledged politics are not for the faint of heart.
“If you’re going to go into the arena, you have to be prepared to take a punch,” she said. “But you also have to be prepared to throw a punch — for the children.”
As for young parents today she gives this advice: “Do not ever underestimate the quality of the time that you spend with your family as part of your career. This is one of the hardest jobs in the world, to raise a family.”
Throughout her 32 years in Congress, Pelosi has been frustrated by the lack of women in politics.
