When 40 Is Not Enough

By rJo Winch

Within these pages are the endless possibilities available to any candidate when the people they love, trust and dedicate their life to help turn their backs on them and they find a bond with someone they never thought would be in there corner because just four short years prior, they too were on the other side.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trafford Publishing
• Release date: Mar 25, 2021
• ISBN: 9781698706733

rJo Winch

rJo was born in Fuquay-Varina, NC as Rosezina Pegram. She grew up in Hartford, CT with her mom, three sisters and four brothers. She served 24 years in the United States Air Force as an Administrative Specialist, Master Military Training Instructor, and Superintendent of Personnel before pursuing her dream of becoming an author. Welcome Home, her first book was inspired by her adopted daughter Shaquasia Marie who is the co-author of this book.

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Copyright 2021 rJo Winch.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a

retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,

photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written prior permission of the author.

ISBN: 978-1-6987-0672-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6987-0673-3 (e)

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

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CONTENTS

Dedication

The foreword

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

DEDICATION

T o my mother Prenzina Holloway; Lifelong community activist; member of the 1 st and 7 th Districts Hartford Democratic Town Committee; 1 st Black Women Deputy Sheriff of Hartford County.

To my children, thank you for just being there. No matter what I go through, you are there with your unconditional love and patience.

To my sibling, you always have my back, I love you.

THE FOREWORD

T his story was born four years prior to the 2015 City of Hartford municipal election. What happened in 2011 at the Hartford Democratic Town Committee (HDTC) Convention set in motion the foundation of the words printed on these pages.

Within these pages is the desire to help others understand local government, how it works, and what people can do to influence change where they live. What you are about to learn applies no matter what city, town, rural area or suburb people reside within these Unites States of America. Let’s just say my desire is to help others unlock the door to their local government by being enlightened to what you can do when the stakes are high, and the odds are against you.

Within these pages are the endless possibilities available to any candidate when the people they love, trust and dedicate their life to help turn their backs on them and they find a bond with someone they never thought would be in there corner because just four short years prior, they too were on the other side. Thus, the political phrase of, No permanent enemies, is proven to be true.

Because I considered the task before me was so hard, so unattainable and so high, I compared it to mountain climbing for the first time. Through my experience I want to help open your eyes and help you learn there are many techniques needed to overcome the fears of climbing an unclimbable mountain; realizing you will be entering into unchartered territory; there is no need to be fearful. When I began this journey, I was a novice at the game of mountain climbing too.

As a matter of fact, I had several failed attempts. But because I was tireless and unwilling to give up, I kept trying until I discovered what held the mountain together and I began to chisel at the sides, chipping away one rock at a time.

Every fallen rock represented another lesson learned. I kept learning and reaching out for more knowledge from those who thought to climb this mountain but gave up, anticipating they would fail. Their failures became my foundation.

CHAPTER ONE

T o have a clear understanding of this journey, I have to take you back to the year of 2011 at the Hartford Democratic Town Committee (HDTC) Convention, in the month of July, where the task was to endorse the City of Hartford Democratic candidates for Mayor, City Council, City Treasurer and Constable. This convention took place every four years and its membership consists of about 70 town committee members. Which meant each endorsed candidate needed to acquire at least 50% plus one (36) votes.

It began as most conventions do, with the roll call of members present. Our convention consists of six districts: Districts: 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th. There was no 2nd District because the City of Hartford lost that district after the 2010 CENSUS which also led to a redistricting.

First on the agenda was the nominations for Mayor which was a pretty smooth process. There was one other candidate that was