One of the greatest campaign experiences I ever had was working on John Benoit's State Senate campaign.  First of all we won, there is no better feeling after a hard fought battle.  Next there was the team:  Eddie Sprecco was about as cool headed as they come.  Darin Schemmer had no enemies.  All of the volunteers; Bridgette...soon to be Mrs. Sprecco, Sarah Johnson, Sarah Peterson, Robert Youssef (now councilman Youssef) and several others were all really good hearted, fun people.

We would wind down at the end of the day eating pizza, huddled around a computer screen watching youtube clips of SNL's "People getting punched while eating", Dramatic Squirrel, and Bub Rubb to name a few.  Once Eddie and I had Chinese food something like 3 days in a row.  John had offered to get us some burgers and we were real excited about it until he changed his mind last minute and we ended up at a Panda Express...what could we do?  We ate our Orange Chicken gratefully.

These were good times, and none of it would have been possible were it not for Barry Nestande.  No one knew, not even him that I was at a very low place in my life personally at the time.  I was good at putting on my game face.  When we had the official chat and he hired me there was somthing about his personality that made you feel like you belonged, it was that rare element in politics called sincerity.  He helped me build confdence in my capabilities.  He worked hard, looked out for people he cared about and appreciated everyones hard work and contributions to the team.

My experience working with him was relatively brief compared to some that worked with him and got to know him for years.  But I learned a lifetime of valuable knowledge from him in that short amount of time that is irreplacable and without equal.  He was good at identifying your strengths and amplifying them.  If you were an opponent, he was equally good at identifying your weaknesses and capitalizing on them, you did not want to be his opponent.

From the top down, Barry fostered an atmosphere of guided creativity and you couldn't help but love going to work.  He leaves behind a loving family, countless friends and dozens of colleagues that depended on his expertise.  It is a void that in most cases will never be filled, in others it will take several people to do half of what one Barry Nestande could accomplish in half the time.

I am better off for having the privilage of knowing and working with Barry.  I am devastated to think that his number on my cell phone will no longer reach him and I am really going to miss him.  Thanks Barry, keep fighting the good fight.

-NM