Door-knocking blues

11/6/2024

Knock, knock.

Hello, my name is Joe Weeg, and I’m here to encourage you to vote in the upcoming school board election. 

Listen, I HATE door-knocking for candidates. Always have. I even hated it when my job was on the line with the many elections of Tom Miller for Attorney General and John Sarcone for Polk County Attorney. I hated door-knocking before many of you were even born. Heck, I even hate knock-knock jokes.

But here I am, 20 years ago, at some stranger’s door trying to get them to vote and to vote for my candidate — interrupting their important evening beverage and their even more important scrolling of German Shepherd puppy videos. Who wouldn’t prefer German Shepherd puppies to me at their door? Duh!

I smile a lot. I hand out literature. I answer questions. I wish everyone well. And I go on to the next house.

And please consider my wife, Theresa Weeg, for school board. Here’s some information, and I’d be glad to answer any question.

I want to go home. But, no, my smart and talented and CONNIVING wife was running for school board. She had done some door-knocking here and there but concluded fairly early on that it was not for her. It was for me. Really? She is much more personable. She is the one at any graduation party, wedding or shower, whooping, “Where’s the dancing?” I’m the one yelling from the bathroom when door-knockers show up, saying, “Have they left yet?” But I assured her that I’d do all the remaining knocking.

What was I thinking? No one wants to hear my spiel. No one wants to engage after a long day at work. And I don’t want to talk to them. My mantra when I approach a door is simple: “Please don’t be home, please don’t be home, please don’t be home.”

Ah, one last door on my list. It’s a Republican — E.J. Giovannetti. A member of the Polk County Board of Supervisors. I don’t know him, but I know he’s going to be nothing but trouble for my progressive wife and, therefore, for me. Oh, well.

Knock, knock. “Hi, I’m Joe Weeg and…”

That was two decades ago. 

Did you know that E.J. Giovannetti was Urbandale’s mayor for 20 years? Yup. And then, after a few years off, he felt “out of the mix,” and so he ran for and was elected to 10 years with the Polk County Board of Supervisors. And, during all this time, including up to today, he has devoted himself to being a member of a gazillion commissions and boards. Lord, help us.

And his philosophy as a community leader?

“Unlike some politicians today, I knew I didn’t know anything, and that was probably my strongest suit. But people came to the table. Everybody was there to build a community we could be proud of. We didn’t care who got credit for it. There weren’t any winners or losers.”

Oh, and let’s not forget his personal life, where he took care of a very sick wife for four years until she died, raised two young kids on his own, and built a successful law practice. The guy even has a park shelter named after him in Urbandale. An enclosed one. With a kitchen.

I personally don’t like him. 

Is door-knocking a punishment for some sin committed earlier in life?

“When I was on the ballot, even though I didn’t want to, I felt I had to go door knocking.”

E.J. and I talk on FaceTime because he is in Northern California when I reach out. Which means, for much of the conversation, I am trying to position the camera on my computer so that my neck and chin are not one long ski slope. I am unsuccessful.

“But once I got started door-knocking, I got wrapped up. Most people are congenial. They may not agree; they will frequently ask you questions. But I really enjoyed it once I got started.”

Isn’t it a waste of time when you have social media and ads and public appearances?

“I think it’s really important. I knocked on doors even when I was running unopposed. People want to know that you want the job. And if you’re not out there, if they’re not seeing signs, and you’re not knocking on their doors, they think you’re not interested.” 

Well, this is bad news for an avid hater of door-knocking. And since E.J. wasn’t going to say he wouldn’t recommend it, I asked about politics in general. 

What’s your advice to a young person going into politics today?

“You have to understand as soon as you get into public office, you have accepted a public trust, and with that goes the responsibility to listen to all sides, not just one side. And you need to figure out how to make it better. This will not be easy, and you will not be liked by everybody. That is your contribution.”

So, 20 years ago I knock on Republican E.J. Giovannetti’s door with just a bit of trepidation, to ask for his support for my Democrat wife…

… and E.J. smiled, shook my hand, invited me into his home, we had a beer, and we talked about life for more than an hour. And, yes, he supported my wife. He was shockingly charming. 

Yikes. A positive door-knocking experience. I give up. I’m going to stop singing the door-knocking blues. Although, trust me, when visitors come, no matter how wonderful, I’m still going to hide in the bathroom yelling, “Have they left yet?” 

Sorry. ♦

Joe Weeg spent 31 years bumping around this town as a prosecutor for the Polk County Attorney’s Office. Now retired, he writes about the frequently overlooked people, places and events in Des Moines on his blog: www.joesneighborhood.com.