For those of you who may have missed the announcement, I have decided to experiment a little bit with my campaigning style.  It’s my firm belief that you cannot represent people until you truly understand their plight.  My 2006 opponent, Ralph Regula, has lost touch with the citizens of his district and no longer knows how to tackle their problems.
   So I have decided to experience for myself what it’s like to live the lives of American citizens who don’t make the front page every day….and my first lesson is to go 100 hours as a homeless person.
   I’m leaving in the next few minutes and heading into downtown Canton.  My girlfriend will be dropping me off with only the clothes on my body and a notepad so I can document my experiences.
   When I’m done, sometime after 10pm on Thanksgiving night, I hope to have a better understanding of what life is like for people who have no home, no happy outlook, very little chance to pull themselves out.  And at that point, I will be better equipped to create legislation that will protect people who are trapped between the cracks of society.
   Each day, I will have a friend blog about my day….I’ll take notes, and then will call that friend (who will blog under my screen name, but ID themselves) to write a diary on my behalf.  I’ll include as many details as I can about people I encounter, shelters that may or may not help me, and whatever else I should come across.  I don’t expect it to be easy, but you’ll hear about all the details.
   When it’s done, I’ll post a final recap.
   Along the way, my campaign will still be fundraising, but I want to add a qualifier to this.  10% of all funds donated to my campaign will be passed along to the homeless shelter which can do the most good for people in this predicament.  You will be helping my campaign, but you will also be helping the people I will be meeting for the next 100 hours.  I’d like to be able to pass along a check to them of 1,000 dollars, so please help me reach that goal!
   To donate, please visit my ActBlue page, or go to my blog and use the PayPal link in the left column.  Thank you for your contribution.
   Well, that’s it.  I have to cross-post this, and then I’m out the door.  My 100 hours will officially begin at 6pm on Sunday night.  That’s going to end it at about 10pm on Thursday night.  Wish me luck, thank you for your support.  Don’t forget to check my updates every day on this very blog (and a few others around).
   Abd yes, I have warm clothes to wear.  My girlfriend’s mother is worried about me too, but I think I’ve dressed properly.

Warm wishes to you,
Jeff Seemann