Unnamed Speaker

I'm not really the eternal optimist type person. I tend to lean pessimist, but I was like, this is like a coin flip, I think. And even that felt really oddly hopeful.

And that gap just kind of with each precinct kept getting bigger and bigger and bigger. My phone was ringing off the hook for media. I think people were just like shocked.

And that gap just kind of with each precinct kept getting bigger and bigger and bigger. My phone was ringing off the hook for media. I think people were just like shocked.

People were like, holy crap, you showed that like this seat could be flipped in the future. That's what everyone was telling me. Like you way outperformed what people thought was possible.

People were like, holy crap, you showed that like this seat could be flipped in the future. That's what everyone was telling me. Like you way outperformed what people thought was possible.

I went out to the parking lot to get some air, and we just kept refreshing our phones, and I'm refreshing my phone out in the parking lot.

I went out to the parking lot to get some air, and we just kept refreshing our phones, and I'm refreshing my phone out in the parking lot.

Are you kidding me right now? Oh my gosh. Is this for real?

Are you kidding me right now? Oh my gosh. Is this for real?

I mean, with thousands and thousands of votes, that's a pretty slim margin.

I mean, with thousands and thousands of votes, that's a pretty slim margin.

We only raised $12,000 for my campaign. Like, it was not driven by money. It was driven by people and connections. And so I value every single one of those.

We only raised $12,000 for my campaign. Like, it was not driven by money. It was driven by people and connections. And so I value every single one of those.

Let's just be honest. As shocking as it was for me to find out I won, I think it was 10 times more shocking for the others to find out I won. Somebody even said to me, they were at the commissioner's meeting the day after the election and said it was like a funeral. It was like a 30-second meeting. It was like a funeral is what they told me. And I was like, shoot, that's crazy.

Let's just be honest. As shocking as it was for me to find out I won, I think it was 10 times more shocking for the others to find out I won. Somebody even said to me, they were at the commissioner's meeting the day after the election and said it was like a funeral. It was like a 30-second meeting. It was like a funeral is what they told me. And I was like, shoot, that's crazy.

Then I found out that it's just a name tag. It doesn't have any privileges.

Then I found out that it's just a name tag. It doesn't have any privileges.

And I returned it and said, I'm not interested in trinkets. Like, I'm a county commissioner now. So, like, if you wanted to wait till I take my oath of office to give me this fine, but don't hand me something and say, well, all we can do is give you a name badge. I think that interaction kind of let them know, like, I wasn't joking.

And I returned it and said, I'm not interested in trinkets. Like, I'm a county commissioner now. So, like, if you wanted to wait till I take my oath of office to give me this fine, but don't hand me something and say, well, all we can do is give you a name badge. I think that interaction kind of let them know, like, I wasn't joking.

Like, I'm not here trying to, like, throw my weight around, but I'm also, like, trying to be taken seriously.