Thank You

𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝗬𝗼𝘂, 𝗙𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆, 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀, 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 & 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝘆 - 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗲𝘀

[Final Results pending as it takes longer for official counts on write-ins.]

What I know is that I had enough votes to trigger a review last night, but it was determined there was not enough votes to change the outcome. David Scholl will be the next Mayor of Stallings, congratulations to him. I'd love to see ~20% of the vote.

Last night showed a massive wave in favor of Democrats across the country. From national races to state legislatures, voters rejected extremism and chose progress. (Heck, it makes me wonder if I could've pulled it off with my name on the ballot in this red city.)

Here in Stallings, we proved something important on a smaller scale: write-in campaigns can challenge power. The people can still fight back when we organize. And even just one week is enough time to build a real campaign when you have the right tools, the right values, and the right community.

The energy is real. The momentum is building. And it starts locally.

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𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗱

For years, people told me I should run for office someday. My closest friends have been saying it for 15 years. They probably assumed I would eventually.

But I never planned on it being this week, under these circumstances, as a write-in with seven days' notice.

A couple of weeks ago, people in the community started reaching out asking if they could write me in for Mayor. They weren't asking me to run—they were asking for permission to write my name.

I said yes.

Then something clicked last week. My relentless spirit kicked in. If people believed I should do this, maybe I should actually do this. So I gave it a real shot—not a half-effort, but everything I had.

Here's what I know: Sometimes the moment chooses you. Sometimes you have to say yes before you're ready. Sometimes the point isn't winning—it's showing others what's possible.

One week ago, I sat down and built a campaign from scratch:

• Identified my core values

• Laid out an 8-point platform

• Created a website

• Designed graphics

• Got yard signs made

• Had a t-shirt made

• Ran a social media campaign

• Knocked doors, greeted voters, had conversations

Was it a long shot? Absolutely. But giving my best is the only way I know how to operate.

Win or lose, we just proved that the people can still fight back. That technology can empower, not just extract. That community matters more than money. That democracy still works when we care enough to make it work.

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𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗪𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱

• Write-in campaigns CAN challenge uncontested races

• The people still have power when we use it

• Technology can democratize campaigning - you don't need wealth, just will

• One week is enough to build a professional campaign with the right tools

• Community-first campaigns can compete without big money

• We can make opponents work for it - I definitely made David Scholl get off his butt and hit the trail (ran into him at Stallings Elementary... he didn't seem thrilled to meet me 🤣)

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𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻

Principle • Integrity • Accountable • Innovative • Relentless • Justice

These aren't campaign slogans. They're how I live personally, how I've built my career, and how I approached this race. They'll guide whatever comes next.

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𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵-𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗴𝗻

This was an AI-assisted campaign, and I'm proud of that. But let me be clear: AI didn't replace my voice—it amplified it.

Every value, every policy position, every word on my platform came from me. AI helped me organize my thoughts, design professional materials, and reach voters efficiently. It turned hours of work into minutes. But the authenticity? That was all human.

I used technology to level the playing field—creating professional graphics, building a website, crafting messaging—all in a week, all without a war chest. I proved you don't need wealth or weeks of preparation. You need clarity of purpose, genuine values, and the right tools.

This is what authentic, tech-enabled organizing looks like: Real person. Real values. Real community. Supercharged by smart tools.

This is the future of progressive grassroots organizing. Small-dollar, tech-savvy campaigns can compete—without losing the human touch. Technology should serve people and amplify genuine voices, not replace them.

I share this with everyone so they can understand how we can continue to leverage technology to our advantage and not let it be to our detriment, especially when cash strapped. I want to share this playbook so others can do it too, and 𝗱𝗼 𝗶𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿! I'm happy to workshop and assist future candidates. If you're thinking about running, reach out. Let's build the bench and prove that regular people with real values can still challenge power.

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𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗧𝗮𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗠𝗲

𝘼𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙢𝙮 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮: Stallings is full of people who care deeply about the community willing to share what works, what doesn’t, and their ideas. I had great conversations yesterday. I can easily envision how governments can be more connected with the people.

𝘼𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙢𝙮𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛: I thrive in the fire. From zero to mayoral candidate in 7 days—what a week.

𝘼𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙙𝙚𝙢𝙤𝙘𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙮: It still works when we show up. The system makes it more challenging than it needs to be, but not impossible.

𝘼𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜: Sometimes you have to act when opportunity knocks, even if you're not perfectly ready. This wasn't the ideal timeline, but it was the right moment.

𝘼𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙜𝙖𝙢𝙚: Local organizing takes years, not weeks—and I've been doing various work for over a year now. Showing up at council meetings, building relationships, understanding the issues. Not for my own campaign. Not angling for a run. Just because it mattered and felt natural.

This write-in campaign was perhaps chapter one of something new. Whether I run again or support others, I'm in this fight for the long haul.

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𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝗬𝗼𝘂

To my wife and daughters: Thank you for supporting this wild and exhilarating week. You're my foundation and my biggest supporters. Aaliyah and I took the news much better than when I had to tell her Kamala Harris lost last year. Our expectations were appropriate .

To everyone who supported this last-minute blitz campaign:

• Those who passed my name along

• Those who shared posts and graphics

• Those who made calls and knocked doors

• Those who poll greeted

• Those who contributed to the campaign!

• The Union County Democratic Party for the support

• The Precinct 35 Taxco meetup crew who showed up to meet a first-time candidate

• Every single person who wrote my name on their ballot

• The Enquirer Journal for covering this race

You made this possible. You proved that grassroots organizing works. You showed that citizens can still challenge the status quo.

It was a fun week. A fun experience. And I got to meet amazing people across the political spectrum. Every conversation—even the uncomfortable ones—gave me data, insights, and a deeper understanding of what this community wants and needs.

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𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗵 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱

Let's hold our elected officials accountable. Not just Democrats—Republicans absolutely need to hold their official accountable too.

For anyone who voted for David Scholl, make sure he delivers on his promises. Show up at council meetings. Ask tough questions. Demand transparency. I think my platform is a good one.

Democracy doesn't end on Election Day. It starts there.

To my supporters: Don't disappear. Stay engaged. Attend town meetings. Support other progressive candidates. 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙧𝙪𝙣𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙫𝙚𝙨. The 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 isn't about one person or one seat—it's a 𝒎𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕. And movements require all of us.

I'll be publishing a write-up on 𝟭𝟬 𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒐𝒏𝒔 I learned over the next few days, including the conversations I had, the data I observed, the tools I used, and how we can replicate this model for future campaigns.

Local organizing is where we build power. Let's get to work.

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Thank you. This is just the beginning.

In Solidarity.

-Raum Sandoval