Enter state Rep. Liz Pike.
As Pike tells the story, when she was first approached with this cockamamie write-in idea, she simply dismissed it. But Madore, being Madore, wouldn’t take no for an answer. Plan B was hatched.
Pike wouldn’t have to do any campaigning. Madore would throw a ton of money into the campaign. Pike would simply sit back, relax and enjoy the show.
To my surprise, Pike said yes. I guess Pike has yet to figure out that associating with the likes of Madore is not a good career move.
But then, when someone shovels $300,000 in front of your face, one can sort of see how the “yes” comes out of your mouth.
You heard that right. Madore is pushing $300,000 of his own dough into the campaign to get Pike elected. Just think what you or I or so many needy county organizations could do with that kind of money.
They say money can’t buy you love. But we’ll see if it can buy Madore a politician who thinks a lot more like he does.
When you query Pike about her association with Madore, she has to straddle some delicate line between being with him but not completely with him. I get that.
So she will tell you she’s her own woman who will make decisions based on what she thinks is right, not what someone else thinks. But she will just as quickly tell you she voted for Madore in the county chair race and aligns politically with him.
Pike’s bad choices
This isn’t the first time Pike has had Madore’s back.
Last year, when the county charter ended up on the ballot, Madore hated it because it was going to reduce his power over the county. So he campaigned hard against it. But he needed a name to campaign against it. Someone not named Madore. You guessed it.
Again, Pike.
I told Pike before the county charter election that she would end up on the wrong side of history if she campaigned against the charter. And, of course, she was. The charter was approved.
Regardless of whether she wins this long-shot write-in campaign, by associating with Madore in this election, she will be on the wrong side of history again.
Pike is simply making bad choices in her political career. Be it Madore or right-wing bloggers who make a name for themselves by insulting everyone, she simply is on the wrong path.
Because I like her, I’m always hoping the light bulb will go on some day. Pike doesn’t need Madore. Pike doesn’t need to campaign for his issues. Pike doesn’t need to consult with outrageous right-wing bloggers.
We need a strong Republican Party in Clark County. Pike could be a force to bring it together. But she’s clearly not doing that now.
But if not now, when?
