I'm the subject of a feature-length profile in this month's issue of Louisville Magazine.

"Beer's not what he does, though, not any more."

I've been given the gist of a curriculum vitae, albeit several thousand words long, and yet it feels odd to tout an article about me. Instead, here is the writer Dylon Jones to introduce his feature article in Louisville Magazine.

I spent the last year getting to know Roger Baylor. After months of political humor, debates, cigars, Communist cats, and a good many beers, I give you this: The Independent, my profile of a small-town dissident with the whole world spread out before him.

It's flattering to be featured, but more importantly, my aim is to draw your attention to Dylon Jones as a writer. He spent countless hours taking notes and making recordings, distilled this unruly mass of information to its essentials, then formed an accurate, entertaining narrative.

As a journalist, he gets it right, and as a writer, he tells the story well. Writing is damned hard work, and Dylon does it well. Keep your eyes on him.

The Independent, by Dylon Jones (Louisville Magazine)

New Albany craft-beer pioneer Roger Baylor drained his glass and left his brewery to run for mayor last fall. The path ahead is littered with obstacles -- contentious former business partners, the two-party system, "garbage trees." Good thing he brought shears.

Also, kudos to Chris Witzke for his photography and informed chat. The link takes you to the interactive issue of Louisville Magazine (June 2016), which is easy to use.

I lost the election. I may need to get a job, or something.

The election was Tuesday, November 3, and I lost somewhat resoundingly. Okay, I got only 7%, but at the same time, more than 36,000 people lived in New Albany this year and didn't run for mayor, so I'm serene.

Put up or shut up? Rest assured I won't be shutting up.

I knew all along it would be hard to break through the "same old same old." However, I'm satisfied that my goals were met, apart from the distraction winning. We competed in spite of having very little money, and I put together a platform that was coherent and detailed. The campaign had substance and gravitas. No one else touched the issues the way I did. It was a learning and a growing experience, even at the advanced age of 55.

In the aftermath, here's my political reality: ON THE AVENUES: Confusion, exile, ignobility and resistance.

The big question now: What's next in terms of my career in beer?

I'm not sure. My leave of absence from NABC to run for mayor has concluded, and during the political process, my partners and I decided that they'd be buying me out of the business. We've not concluded these negotiations, so that's the first step.

The truth of the matter is that after eight months away from the daily beer business grind, I'm refreshed, reinvented, encouraged and interested in pursuing future options. Just know that insofar as NABC is concerned, the die is cast.

From games of chance in which the outcome is determined by the throwing of dice or a single die. Popularized by its use by Julius Caesar when he crossed the Rubicon to begin a civil war in the Roman Republic, indicating the commission of an irreversible act, whence also cross the Rubicon.

I'm an owner of NABC until I'm not an owner. Let's hope this settlement comes sooner rather than later, but be aware that legalities can be extensive. Any involvement I have with NABC in the short term is likely to be casual. As far as I'm concerned, I'm a free agent as of now, and very excited about piecing together a few revenue streams.

Wish me luck, and your ideas are appreciated. Thanks to all my friends in the craft beer cosmos who've been so very supportive of my quixotic political stab in the dark. To know me well is to know it's something I had to do, and may do again.  

Until then ... back to blogging.

Roger Baylor's $21 at 55 Birthday Party Fundraiser on Monday, August 3.

For those just tuning in, I am running for mayor of New Albany as an independent candidate ... and there's a birthday coming up. I'm rolling them together.

Roger Baylor's $21 at 55 Birthday Party Fundraiser (on Fb)

Please don't bring a gift to my 55th birthday party at the Public House on August 3. Rather, pack a $20 and a $1 (or the equivalent) as a recommended donation to my mayoral campaign. I hate to be crass, but honesty is a rare virtue in political circles, and yes, we need a few bucks to mount the campaign.

I have resolved to forego big-dollar PAC money and unregulated "soft" slush funds from afar -- and it's a good thing I did, because no one's offered any of it to me, anyway. If you can't make it on the 3rd, kindly permit me to direct your attention to our Square portal, where small donations to the campaign can be made.

Shift to Baylor

Thank you for your support. On the 3rd, the usual food and drink options will be available for those wishing to dine, or just come for a chat. If you're short on cash, don't worry. COME ANYWAY.

See you on the 3rd.

The press release: "New Albany Officially Has an Independent in Mayor's Race."

Here's the formal Baylor for Mayor candidacy announcement, as conveyed to area news outlets. On Monday morning at 8:00 a.m., we'll meet on the sidewalk in front of the Carnegie Center and shatter the purely symbolic bottle of champagne. You are cordially invited to attend.

Also be aware of these two events:

Baylor for Mayor Street Issues Conversation, at Ritter Park, 6:00 p.m., July 15

Roger Baylor's $21 at 55 Birthday Party Fundraiser, at NABC's Pizzeria & Public House, 6:00 p.m., August 3

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For IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New Albany Officially Has an Independent in Mayor's Race

NEW ALBANY, Ind. - After meeting Indiana's petition requirements for all independent candidates, businessman Roger Baylor has qualified to be placed on the ballot in this fall's mayoral contest.

Baylor will meet with supporters on Monday (July 13) at 8 a.m. in front of The Carnegie Center for Art & History (201 E. Spring St) to officially kick off his campaign. Interested media are invited to cover the event and the candidate will be available for questions during and after the event.

"I have always been uncomfortable saying 'I' because this campaign is all about 'we,'" said Baylor, "but I want to offer my sincere personal thanks to all of those who signed our petition to gain ballot access and to all the volunteers who helped gather those signatures."

Baylor, who is on leave from the New Albanian Brewing Company during the campaign, is the only independent candidate in the mayor's race. He'll face incumbent Democrat Jeff Gahan and Republican Kevin Zurschmiede, who currently serves on the New Albany city council.

Former New Albany City Clerk Marcey Wisman-Bennett serves as treasurer of Shift to Baylor, the official campaign committee.

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CONTACT Roger Baylor by email at mayorbaylor@gmail.com or by phone at 502.468.9710 or 812.944.3617

Facebook: facebook.com/baylorformayor
Website: baylorformayor.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/newalbaniannewalbanian
Instagram: https://instagram.com/baylorformayor/

Bring a broom and become a Baylor for Mayor volunteer.

Between now and November, the Baylor for Mayor campaign will be relying heavily on volunteers to spread the word.

The two major political parties will have tens of thousands of dollars to spend on their accustomed local campaign methodologies, which will be long on yard signs and short on actual content.

We’ll do our best to raise operational funds of our own, but aren’t we all sadly aware of the destructive effects on the American political process of vast expenditures like those projected by local Democrats and Republicans?

Conversely, although they'll have lots of money, I personally have the great pleasure of knowing all sorts of talented, creative people who are accustomed to finding ways of getting things done, from the grassroots up, by whatever means are available to them.

Accordingly, we’ll be running an unconventional, guerrilla-style political campaign, and I’d like for you to help us with it.

Let this be my first of many callouts to you, some of the smartest people I know, to begin the resistance, unleash the hounds, and start flying the Jolly Roger. Do you have ideas? Let me know what they are, and if you need my corpus to do it, I'll be there.

And, of course, we have more pedestrian tasks that need doing. What else would you expect from New Albany’s “Walkable City” candidate if not pedestrian tasks?

We’re aiming for an organizational meeting next week on Tuesday evening, and there are tasks for tending right now. Let me know if you’re interested: mayorbaylor@gmail.com, or 502-468-9710, or message me via Facebook and social media.

Thanks for your support.

RAB

(This message is being cross-posted many places today)

Media notice: Roger A. Baylor will take a leave of absence from NABC to run for mayor of New Albany.

Media notice: Roger A. Baylor will take a leave of absence from NABC to run for mayor of New Albany.

Two months ago, I utilized the bully pulpit afforded me by my weekly blog column to announce that in 2015, I’d be running for mayor of New Albany as an independent.

ON THE AVENUES: To the third floor -- but first, we throw the rascals out.

My rationale isn't overly complicated. I’m running for mayor because a city in transition like New Albany desperately needs progressive ideas like those espoused by people like me, from all walks of life, who routinely have been marginalized or ignored by the same old game, played the same old way, by the same old, tired political suspects.

It’s a big undertaking for any candidate. One must complete various forms and gather the necessary signatures, and then organize a whole campaign from scratch. All along, it has been my intention to begin the campaign in earnest come March 2 ... and we're right on schedule.

Consequently, the first of many transitions on along the path to come begins today. Effective immediately, I’m taking a leave of absence from the New Albanian Brewing Company (NABC), so as to devote my full attention to the campaign for mayor.

Of course, I’ll honor all previous commitments, but from this point the day-to-day is in the capable hands of my business partners, Kate Lewison and Amy Baylor, and our fine staff.

www.newalbanian.com

As many readers may already know, I own 33% of NABC’s two incorporations. When the November election is over and I’ve been elected to the office of mayor, I’ll act immediately to sell my shares to my two business partners, according to the terms of our buy-sell agreement.

Which is to say, I’m all in. I’m very serious about running for mayor -- and winning. Let the fun begin.

Questions? Just ask.

502-468-9710 (mobile)
roger@newalbanian.com