Rock the Vote

There's another guy in the race, John Michael Tancredi, a longtime FedEx courier who's a Center School District board member and a community volunteer. Like Henry, he wants to be accountable to taxpayers and govern with transparency and civility. "I'd like to see one of us beat him," Tancredi says of Tarwater. His fear, though, is that he and Henry will split the votes for change, giving Tarwater the victory.

When I called him, Tancredi seemed surprised. He'd just assumed that Henry was, he said, my "boy." It's true that I've known Henry for years and that we run into each other around town and talk politics. (Another bit of disclosure: Former Pitch writer Patrick Dobson is challenging Scott Burnett for his 1st District seat. We'll be staying out of that one.)

Actually, I worry what might happen to Henry if he does get elected to the Jackson County Legislature. Would he be driven crazy by the toxicity? Would county politics erode his endearing idealism?

But I'm watching Henry's campaign because I'm interested in a guy who finally stops talking and starts walking. And I wonder what the county would feel like if more people — especially Westport drinkers and musicians — knew who their legislators were.

The election's August 8.