Eighteen months ago Gilda Reed started her journey to lend voice to the unheard, to represent the people of Louisiana's 1st congressional district.  Fifteen months after Hurricane Katrina stormed through her district, fifteen months after the man-made damage of the Army Corps left the greater New Orleans area in shambles, fifteen months after we witnessed our citizens abandoned on rooftops, Gilda took a quantum leap forward and entered the political fray.

Gilda had a most fulfilling life as mother of seven, grandmother of soon-to-be fourteen, teacher of thousands at the University of New Orleans, friend to many, until her world was shattered by prior decades of sheer political negligence, until her world was ravaged by the decision to protect her family, her neighbors, her district as if they were cattle.

Now, the Special Election is but 2 days away.

Let us be the gentle wind at her back!

Unbeknownst to Gilda Reed, a decision made by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1965 led to her decision to enter the political fray, to pursue with strong-willed determination the need to represent the People of LA-01.  In 1965, Hurricane Betsy  ravaged the Gulf Coast. Reacting to the devastation wrought by "Billion-Dollar Betsy", Congress passed the Flood Control Act of 1965 which placed the responsibility of the safe-keeping of New Orleans solely with the Army Corps of Engineers.  The Corps was the designer and architect of a flood protection system for a major city, but, instead, provided protection at a level no greater than intended to protect cows!  

Just when I felt there was no hope on the political horizon, I had a most magnificent, serendipitous moment, one of inspiration and awe. I happened upon the website of Gilda Reed, "an opinionated Louisiana Democrat"  running for the U.S. House of Representatives in Louisiana’s 1st Congressional District.  Gilda’s unwavering passion and strong-willed determination to represent all her people inspired me to write this, my first diary. So, now we have another kossack running for Congress!
 

Her qualifications – "Hard-headed determination: If I can manage seven children, 11 grandchildren, a polio disability, earn my Ph.D., and teach more classes per semester than any of my university colleagues, then I can manage anything."  Her reasons for running are "to make a powerful difference in the quality of life for the working middle class and the poor, to put an end to the War in Iraq and bring our troops home safely, and to work on environmental issues which are vital to the health and well being of all of our citizens."