Russ Stephenson, the at-large Raleigh city councilman, told my mother he hopes I’ll say something nice about him in my blog. So here goes.

I’ve had some criticism of Russ. I think he – and too much of the current council – is too downtown-focused. As a Democrat, I’m concerned that Russ and some of his colleagues are giving Republicans too much campaign fodder.

But here is where my mother comes in.

She lives in a modest neighborhood inside the Beltline. Not long ago, she was having trouble getting some storm-related trash picked up, branches and the like.

No shrinking violet, and not being sure whose district she was in, she started calling people on the City Council.

Here is where Russ comes in.

He returned her call. They had a nice chat. Russ said he would see that the trash got picked up. And it did get picked up.

He even stopped by her house one day to make sure. That’s when he mentioned my blog.

And I’m glad to oblige. Because making my mother happy is more important than politics.

I’d like to say it won’t make any difference in my blogs about the City Council.

But I’m not sure.

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