When not to run

You don't have to run for office. Sometimes you have to say no, I'm not going to do it, for a number of reasons. Perhaps the time isn't right for you. Perhaps the seat isn't right. Maybe you just cannot win, no matter what, because you're a progressive Democrat and the seat is held by a popular moderate Democrat with no bad marks against him.

That was the case with the young woman who came into my office the other day, hoping to get my support for her run for State Senate against the popular moderate Democrat incumbent. Only she wasn't even a Democrat. She used to be a Democrat. She ran to be a Bernie delegate and almost made it last year, but not quite. She also ran for this seat last year and came in third behind the Republican in the Primary with 13 % of the vote. This year she wants to energize millennials, not spend any of her own money (she spent a total of $3000 last time and most of that was filing fees), and raise $25,000. The winner raised $600,000.

No, she is now a "No Party Preference" voter. In this Democratic district, you need to make a commitment. You'll never get the unions, certainly not any Democratic endorsements.

"Why not stay in the fold, run as a progressive Democrat, " I offer her helpfully. "We are improving the Party. We can't do it from the outside. We can't do it if young people jump ship and make their mantra of "they are all the same" come true by their own actions."

"Don't run for Senate," I say. "Run for something smaller, school board maybe. So much easier to do, so much more in line with your background (educator, mother of a school age child), and as a young person yourself, it's a natural fit." Or get appointed to a board or commission in your town. Learn the ropes. Get some political experience under your belt.

And then, if she is successful, she might try for City Council in a couple of years. And so forth. This seat could be hers if she bothered to lay the groundwork. Just not this year. This gal is barely 30 years old for heaven's sake. She has plenty of time. She is so very sweet, very earnest, but that just isn't enough. Nor are her visionary politics, which I happen to agree with, but which do not answer the question, "What are you going to do for me?" which is on every voter's lips, whether they know it or not.

But this young woman is hell bent on being a sacrificial lamb. (Only doesn't know it herself.) She seems to really believe she can win with her $25,000 which she'll probably never raise. I do admire her spunk, but  all she will do is burn through her contacts, her friends, what supporters she has, and be left feeling bitter. I've seen it a million times. As she left my office, she asked for a hug.

Sweet, but no clue.

Don't be that person. 

And if you think I am talking about you, you are not the only one. And it's not just young people either. Think about it. Or as my mother always said, "Look before you leap."

Candidate Training night in Marin County!

Yes, it's that time of year, when the smell of fresh baked campaigns is in the air; at least would be candidates start gathering their ingredients, getting out their cookbooks, and putting on their aprons.

Well, we have the recipe for your campaign, right here in Marin County, at the Marin Women's Political Action Committee's Annual Campaign Training Night. We are a Non-partisan pro choice organization dedicated to advancing women in politics. This event will be on June 15.

All Candidates and those thinking of cooking up a campaign this year or next (or wanting to help those who are running) from Marin and beyond - join MWPAC at our annual training event. This event is always a hit, with experts in campaign finance, messaging, media, social and otherwise, endorsements and more explaining the process and sharing tips.

Meet fellow candidates and elected officials. Eat divine delights from Susie Deming Catering. All just $35. RSVP by June 12 to Barbara at 415-897-1224 or bmatas8139@aol.com

And to whet your appetite, here is a recipe for some Non-Partisan Chicken Wings:  

 

Left Wings

• 2 teaspoons ground chipotle chile pepper
• 2 teaspoons black pepper
• 2 teaspoons salt, divided
• 4 1/2 to 5 lb. chicken wings
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 2 garlic cloves, pressed
• 1 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 (8-oz.) can tomato sauce
• 1 (6-oz.) can tomato paste
• 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 2 teaspoons hot sauce

1. Light 1 side of grill, heating to 350° to 400° (medium-high) heat. Combine first 2 ingredients and 1 tsp. salt. Cut off chicken wing tips, and discard; cut wings in half at joint. Toss wings with oil. Sprinkle chicken with pepper mixture, and toss.
2. Arrange wings over unlit side of grill, and grill, covered with grill lid, 18 to 20 minutes on each side or until done.
3. Meanwhile, melt butter in a saucepan over medium-high heat; add onion and garlic, and sauté 5 minutes or until tender. Reduce heat to medium. Add vinegar, next 5 ingredients, and remaining 1 tsp. salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, 10 to 12 minutes or until bubbly.
4. Transfer wings to a clean bowl; add half of butter mixture, reserving remaining mixture. Toss wings gently to coat. Place wings on lit side of grill. Grill, covered with grill lid, 10 minutes or until browned, turning occasionally. Toss wings with reserved butter mixture. Serve with Blue Cheese Sauce.

- See more at: http://theaverageconsumer.com/2012/11/consumer-cafe-election-appetizers/#sthash.FcIImPjk.dpuf

Whether you are a left winger or a right winger – here are some chicken wings for your election party from Southern Living Magazine.

Left Wings

• 2 teaspoons ground chipotle chile pepper
• 2 teaspoons black pepper
• 2 teaspoons salt, divided
• 4 1/2 to 5 lb. chicken wings
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 2 garlic cloves, pressed
• 1 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 (8-oz.) can tomato sauce
• 1 (6-oz.) can tomato paste
• 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 2 teaspoons hot sauce

1. Light 1 side of grill, heating to 350° to 400° (medium-high) heat. Combine first 2 ingredients and 1 tsp. salt. Cut off chicken wing tips, and discard; cut wings in half at joint. Toss wings with oil. Sprinkle chicken with pepper mixture, and toss.
2. Arrange wings over unlit side of grill, and grill, covered with grill lid, 18 to 20 minutes on each side or until done.
3. Meanwhile, melt butter in a saucepan over medium-high heat; add onion and garlic, and sauté 5 minutes or until tender. Reduce heat to medium. Add vinegar, next 5 ingredients, and remaining 1 tsp. salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, 10 to 12 minutes or until bubbly.
4. Transfer wings to a clean bowl; add half of butter mixture, reserving remaining mixture. Toss wings gently to coat. Place wings on lit side of grill. Grill, covered with grill lid, 10 minutes or until browned, turning occasionally. Toss wings with reserved butter mixture. Serve with Blue Cheese Sauce.

Right Wings

• 2 teaspoons ground chipotle chile pepper
• 2 teaspoons black pepper
• 2 teaspoons salt, divided
• 4 1/2 to 5 lb. chicken wings
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 2 garlic cloves, pressed
• 1 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 (8-oz.) can tomato sauce
• 1 (6-oz.) can tomato paste
• 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 2 teaspoons hot sauce

1. Light 1 side of grill, heating to 350° to 400° (medium-high) heat. Combine first 2 ingredients and 1 tsp. salt. Cut off chicken wing tips, and discard; cut wings in half at joint. Toss wings with oil. Sprinkle chicken with pepper mixture, and toss.
2. Arrange wings over unlit side of grill, and grill, covered with grill lid, 18 to 20 minutes on each side or until done.
3. Meanwhile, melt butter in a saucepan over medium-high heat; add onion and garlic, and sauté 5 minutes or until tender. Reduce heat to medium. Add vinegar, next 5 ingredients, and remaining 1 tsp. salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, 10 to 12 minutes or until bubbly.
4. Transfer wings to a clean bowl; add half of butter mixture, reserving remaining mixture. Toss wings gently to coat. Place wings on lit side of grill. Grill, covered with grill lid, 10 minutes or until browned, turning occasionally. Toss wings with reserved butter mixture. Serve with Blue Cheese Sauce.

Blue Cheese Sauce

• 1 (8-oz.) container sour cream
• 1/3 cup buttermilk
• 1 (3-oz.) wedge blue cheese, crumbled
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon coarse-grained mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper

Stir together sour cream, buttermilk, blue cheese, chives, lemon zest, lemon juice, mustard, salt, and pepper.

- See more at: http://theaverageconsumer.com/2012/11/consumer-cafe-election-appetizers/#sthash.FcIImPjk.dpuf

Left Wings

• 2 teaspoons ground chipotle chile pepper
• 2 teaspoons black pepper
• 2 teaspoons salt, divided
• 4 1/2 to 5 lb. chicken wings
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 2 garlic cloves, pressed
• 1 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 (8-oz.) can tomato sauce
• 1 (6-oz.) can tomato paste
• 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 2 teaspoons hot sauce

1. Light 1 side of grill, heating to 350° to 400° (medium-high) heat. Combine first 2 ingredients and 1 tsp. salt. Cut off chicken wing tips, and discard; cut wings in half at joint. Toss wings with oil. Sprinkle chicken with pepper mixture, and toss.
2. Arrange wings over unlit side of grill, and grill, covered with grill lid, 18 to 20 minutes on each side or until done.
3. Meanwhile, melt butter in a saucepan over medium-high heat; add onion and garlic, and sauté 5 minutes or until tender. Reduce heat to medium. Add vinegar, next 5 ingredients, and remaining 1 tsp. salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, 10 to 12 minutes or until bubbly.
4. Transfer wings to a clean bowl; add half of butter mixture, reserving remaining mixture. Toss wings gently to coat. Place wings on lit side of grill. Grill, covered with grill lid, 10 minutes or until browned, turning occasionally. Toss wings with reserved butter mixture. Serve with Blue Cheese Sauce.

 

Right Wings

• 2 teaspoons ground chipotle chile pepper
• 2 teaspoons black pepper
• 2 teaspoons salt, divided
• 4 1/2 to 5 lb. chicken wings
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 2 garlic cloves, pressed
• 1 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 (8-oz.) can tomato sauce
• 1 (6-oz.) can tomato paste
•  2 tablespoons light brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 2 teaspoons hot sauce
• Cook the same as the Left Wings.
• 
  
  Blue Cheese Sauce
  • 1 (8-oz.) container sour cream
  • 1/3 cup buttermilk
  • 1 (3-oz.) wedge blue cheese, crumbled
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon coarse-grained mustard
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  Stir together sour cream, buttermilk, blue cheese, chives, lemon zest, lemon juice, mustard, salt, and pepper.
  
  
  
  

Whether you are a left winger or a right winger – here are some chicken wings for your election party that I found in my Southern Living Magazine.

Left Wings

• 2 teaspoons ground chipotle chile pepper
• 2 teaspoons black pepper
• 2 teaspoons salt, divided
• 4 1/2 to 5 lb. chicken wings
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 2 garlic cloves, pressed
• 1 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 (8-oz.) can tomato sauce
• 1 (6-oz.) can tomato paste
• 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 2 teaspoons hot sauce

1. Light 1 side of grill, heating to 350° to 400° (medium-high) heat. Combine first 2 ingredients and 1 tsp. salt. Cut off chicken wing tips, and discard; cut wings in half at joint. Toss wings with oil. Sprinkle chicken with pepper mixture, and toss.
2. Arrange wings over unlit side of grill, and grill, covered with grill lid, 18 to 20 minutes on each side or until done.
3. Meanwhile, melt butter in a saucepan over medium-high heat; add onion and garlic, and sauté 5 minutes or until tender. Reduce heat to medium. Add vinegar, next 5 ingredients, and remaining 1 tsp. salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, 10 to 12 minutes or until bubbly.
4. Transfer wings to a clean bowl; add half of butter mixture, reserving remaining mixture. Toss wings gently to coat. Place wings on lit side of grill. Grill, covered with grill lid, 10 minutes or until browned, turning occasionally. Toss wings with reserved butter mixture. Serve with Blue Cheese Sauce.

Right Wings

• 2 teaspoons ground chipotle chile pepper
• 2 teaspoons black pepper
• 2 teaspoons salt, divided
• 4 1/2 to 5 lb. chicken wings
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 2 garlic cloves, pressed
• 1 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 (8-oz.) can tomato sauce
• 1 (6-oz.) can tomato paste
• 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 2 teaspoons hot sauce

1. Light 1 side of grill, heating to 350° to 400° (medium-high) heat. Combine first 2 ingredients and 1 tsp. salt. Cut off chicken wing tips, and discard; cut wings in half at joint. Toss wings with oil. Sprinkle chicken with pepper mixture, and toss.
2. Arrange wings over unlit side of grill, and grill, covered with grill lid, 18 to 20 minutes on each side or until done.
3. Meanwhile, melt butter in a saucepan over medium-high heat; add onion and garlic, and sauté 5 minutes or until tender. Reduce heat to medium. Add vinegar, next 5 ingredients, and remaining 1 tsp. salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, 10 to 12 minutes or until bubbly.
4. Transfer wings to a clean bowl; add half of butter mixture, reserving remaining mixture. Toss wings gently to coat. Place wings on lit side of grill. Grill, covered with grill lid, 10 minutes or until browned, turning occasionally. Toss wings with reserved butter mixture. Serve with Blue Cheese Sauce.

Blue Cheese Sauce

• 1 (8-oz.) container sour cream
• 1/3 cup buttermilk
• 1 (3-oz.) wedge blue cheese, crumbled
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon coarse-grained mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper

Stir together sour cream, buttermilk, blue cheese, chives, lemon zest, lemon juice, mustard, salt, and pepper.

- See more at: http://theaverageconsumer.com/2012/11/consumer-cafe-election-appetizers/#sthash.FcIImPjk.dpuf

Whether you are a left winger or a right winger – here are some chicken wings for your election party that I found in my Southern Living Magazine.

Left Wings

• 2 teaspoons ground chipotle chile pepper
• 2 teaspoons black pepper
• 2 teaspoons salt, divided
• 4 1/2 to 5 lb. chicken wings
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 2 garlic cloves, pressed
• 1 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 (8-oz.) can tomato sauce
• 1 (6-oz.) can tomato paste
• 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 2 teaspoons hot sauce

1. Light 1 side of grill, heating to 350° to 400° (medium-high) heat. Combine first 2 ingredients and 1 tsp. salt. Cut off chicken wing tips, and discard; cut wings in half at joint. Toss wings with oil. Sprinkle chicken with pepper mixture, and toss.
2. Arrange wings over unlit side of grill, and grill, covered with grill lid, 18 to 20 minutes on each side or until done.
3. Meanwhile, melt butter in a saucepan over medium-high heat; add onion and garlic, and sauté 5 minutes or until tender. Reduce heat to medium. Add vinegar, next 5 ingredients, and remaining 1 tsp. salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, 10 to 12 minutes or until bubbly.
4. Transfer wings to a clean bowl; add half of butter mixture, reserving remaining mixture. Toss wings gently to coat. Place wings on lit side of grill. Grill, covered with grill lid, 10 minutes or until browned, turning occasionally. Toss wings with reserved butter mixture. Serve with Blue Cheese Sauce.

Right Wings

• 2 teaspoons ground chipotle chile pepper
• 2 teaspoons black pepper
• 2 teaspoons salt, divided
• 4 1/2 to 5 lb. chicken wings
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 2 garlic cloves, pressed
• 1 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 (8-oz.) can tomato sauce
• 1 (6-oz.) can tomato paste
• 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 2 teaspoons hot sauce

1. Light 1 side of grill, heating to 350° to 400° (medium-high) heat. Combine first 2 ingredients and 1 tsp. salt. Cut off chicken wing tips, and discard; cut wings in half at joint. Toss wings with oil. Sprinkle chicken with pepper mixture, and toss.
2. Arrange wings over unlit side of grill, and grill, covered with grill lid, 18 to 20 minutes on each side or until done.
3. Meanwhile, melt butter in a saucepan over medium-high heat; add onion and garlic, and sauté 5 minutes or until tender. Reduce heat to medium. Add vinegar, next 5 ingredients, and remaining 1 tsp. salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, 10 to 12 minutes or until bubbly.
4. Transfer wings to a clean bowl; add half of butter mixture, reserving remaining mixture. Toss wings gently to coat. Place wings on lit side of grill. Grill, covered with grill lid, 10 minutes or until browned, turning occasionally. Toss wings with reserved butter mixture. Serve with Blue Cheese Sauce.

Blue Cheese Sauce

• 1 (8-oz.) container sour cream
• 1/3 cup buttermilk
• 1 (3-oz.) wedge blue cheese, crumbled
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon coarse-grained mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper

Stir together sour cream, buttermilk, blue cheese, chives, lemon zest, lemon juice, mustard, salt, and pepper.

- See more at: http://theaverageconsumer.com/2012/11/consumer-cafe-election-appetizers/#sthash.FcIImPjk.dpuf

Those "No Party Preference" Voters - What do they want?

I attended a conference yesterday at the Institute for Government Studies at UC Berkeley. It consisted of three panels, one academics who gave off a decidedly right of center flavor, although it was hard to get their gist, with tiny graphs on the screen, and their continual use of the word "moderate" as if that is necessarily a good thing.

The theme of the conference was the Top-Two primary in California. Has it changed the political landscape, how and why?

 

The Top-Two and other factors influencing voting patterns

 

First off, what is a top-two primary? It means the top two vote getters, no matter what party they belong to, face off in November, which often leads to two Democrats in blue districts or two Republicans in red districts. 

Secondly, other newly enacted factors influence the patterns of voting as well, such as the open primary, where any voter can vote for any candidate in the primary, no mater the party of the voters, and the 2010 redistricting, which changed the make-up of many of our State and Federal districts.

They seem to think, although it is really too early to tell, it has, in that legislators, mostly Democrats, have "moderated" their voting patterns. They seemed to think this was a good thing, as opposed to, say, polarization, which is a bad thing in anyone's mind.

However, without defining their terms, who knows just what moderate means. Looking at voting patterns, it seems to mean wimpy. Democrats, even with a two thirds majority, are having a tough time getting legislation passed. Why? Because some of the more "moderate" Dems elected in the last cycle either vote against some of the most progressive bills, or abstain from voting altogether.

 

That M word: Money

No one on the first panel mentioned the influence of corporate money pouring into these campaign to elect the moderate Democrats as a factor in this new behavior. 

Yours truly did bring it up during question and answer time, and they said, "interesting, yes, that could be a factor."

 

Panel number two was more balanced and in touch with the real world, consisting of campaign operatives, including a Democratic pollster, two Rep consultants and one Dem consultant.

They saw the money issue as big, forcing the Dems to spend heavily in the primary to protect their incumbents, even in safe seats, thereby leaving less for the Party to spend in Dem on Rep elections in swing Districts.

 The No Party Preference Voter 

 

And then there is the issue of the No Party Preference Voter, (formerly known as Decline to State, or DTS, maybe they didn't like the association of those initials with the tremors experienced by people undergoing alcohol withdrawal). The Dem pollster said, "They just don't vote in primaries."

 

Later, a professor type, himself a NPP,presented charts and graphs showing that more than one third the population now identifies as NPP. "This group," he said, "They're all confused."

When I asked him where this group came from, former members of other parties or new voters, and didn't he himself vote, he laughed and couldn't answer the question.

Tell me what YOU think

So, if anyone reading this is a NPP voter, tell me, what made you register that way, and do you vote in primary elections, now that you can vote for candidates from any party, and if so, what motivates you? And if not, why not?

Make History - Vote! Two Historic Legislative decisions won on a single vote

Today marks the date in 1920 that Tennessee became the 36th State to ratify the 19th Amendment, granting women the right to vote. One vote in the Legislature made the difference, a young man everyone thought was on the other side, a young man with a telegram from his mother in his pocket, Representative Harry Burn, switched sides with a vote that broke a deadlock and changed history.

How much difference can YOUR one vote make? A lot. For another historic one-vote decision that made history, a young legislator from Peabody Massachusetts changed his vote and broke a tie vote that would have reinstated the death penalty in Massachusetts in 1997. Visiting the home of my youth, I was in the gallery that day to watch the brave John P. Slattery from working class Peabody reverse course and vote not to reinstate. To this day, attempts to bring back the death penalty to Massachusetts have failed. (So far. Mitt Romney as governor tried to change the rules and a bill this year following the Marathon bombings was shelved after much bickering in the Legislature.)

Who's to say what would have happened if these courageous men hadn't bucked the tide that was sweeping through their respective States at the time?

As a campaign consultant, I have seen several close votes. I have seen elections where the vote change by few votes between election night and the time the final votes were counted from every last late vote-by-mail ballot, sometimes a full two weeks after Election Day. Your one vote could be one of these. Make it count.

Labor Day marks the beginning of campaign season. Even in these "off" years, there are elections for school boards, city councils and special districts (sewer, water, community service, etc.) Don't wait until the last minute. Save those flyers, read those editorials and attend those public forums. Your one vote just might make a historic difference in your town.

You May be a Winner!

Yes, you may be a winner, but not if you don't run. Women, I'm talking to you.  With such dismal statistics on women in office (see Campaign Slut June 5, 2013), it's time more of you ran.

Because when women run,women win! (See Campaign Slut March 26, 2013). So, you're wondering, moi? Yes, You, chickie.  Think about it.

Here are a few questions to ask yourself to find out just how ready you might be:


Before you can make a successful bid for public office, you have to ask yourself several key questions.  Among them are the ones below, complied from my experience running local campaigns for the past 12 years. Having the answers to these questions early as well as having some good backing among your friends, colleagues and “movers and shakers” in the District, will give you a good foundation and head start on the November election.

1. What office do I want to run for?

2. Why do I want that office?

3. Am I prepared to spend the amount of money time to mount a serious campaign?

4. Why would I be better than the other candidates or the incumbent?

5. Do I have the time and the interest to do the job once I am elected?

            If you can’t answer these questions to your satisfaction, you may not be ready for a campaign just yet.

            So let’s go over them one at a time:

1.  What office do I want to run for?

            If you have done your homework, you know which offices in your community are coming up for election in the near future.  Some of the offices like County Supervisor, State Assembly or Senate, pay a salary, differing by locality. Others like City Council (except for very large municipalities like Los Angeles , New York or Chicago) may pay a small stipend and that’s all. Some pay nothing at all and you are expected to bear your own costs for attending conference and so forth.

            If this is your first run, you may want to start small, at the local level, running for a school board, if that is your interest, or maybe a local water or sanitary district.  There are often issues involving these kinds of entities that can be quite interesting and challenging.  For instance, a local sanitary district turned over their operations to a giant private corporation, a move that attracted both a number of new candidates and a referendum to undue the turnover.

2. Why do I want to run for this office?

            This question is obviously related to the first one.  Most people get into public life because of a pressing issue in their community that they want to change or help succeed.  If you have kids in school, you will naturally care about decisions made by the local school board.   Is the City Council too lenient with development or does it ignore the needs of the neighborhoods?  That might spur you to run for office, to try to make a difference that will affect your life.

3. Am I prepared to spend the amount of money and time it will take to mount a serious campaign?

            This is a key question in deciding to run for any public office. No matter how lowly the position or how small the District you are running in, you will need to raise and spend some funds for printing, mail, party supplies for your kick off, pizza for the phone volunteers.  And it will take time.  If you plan on a grassroots campaign, be prepared to knock on a lot of doors, make a lot of phone calls, and maybe even spend some time standing at the local supermarkets and farmer’s markets, meeting and greeting voters.

            And depending on how competitive the race is, be ready to polish up your public speaking skills when you address various interest groups, the local Rotary Clubs or even give your pitch on the radio or community TV station. 

4. Why would I be better than the other candidates or the incumbent?

            You will need a persuasive message and part of that message is why the voter should vote for you instead of the other person.  If you are running against an incumbent, this is the most crucial question you need to answer.  If you can’t tell the voters what the incumbent is doing wrong and why you are the one who can do it right, you might as well stop right now before wasting any time or money. 

            Many first time candidates are nervous about seeming to be “negative.” They want the campaign to be all about the issues and can talk endlessly about their vision for the town, or the district.  But you must convince the voters not only that your vision is the right one but that the incumbent does not share it.

            It helps if there is a big issue connected to the race.  In a local race for County Supervisor in coastlaw California, the development of a tract of land between the freeway and the Bay was at issue.  Developers were salivating over it, while the populace wanted to preserve it for open space, and to keep the already horrific traffic manageable.

            One candidate received a good portion of his campaign funds from developers and real estate interests and appeared somewhat ambivalent on the issue. The other one took a decisive stand against the development. Although she started out as a complete unknown, that issue carried the day and she won. 

           

            One tactic she used was to send a piece of mail that simply listed all the contributions the other candidate received, alongside a graphic depiction of the proposed development.  That mail, a TV spot showing traffic congestion and a lot of shoe leather carried the day.

            In a neighboring county, the challenger to an incumbent supervisor uncovered misuse of funds, as well as a neglect of serious problems the county was facing. She sent a comparison piece showing the different approach she would take to these matters, and won easily on Election Day. 

5. Do I have the time and the interest to do the job once I am elected?

            Make sure you really want this job and are not just interested in making a point.  You will give up quiet evenings at home with the family to attend meetings, review documents, attend conferences and meet the public.  A lot of the work is routine, no matter how lofty the office, and you, and your family, must be ready to make sacrifices.

            Many citizens get all fired up when they are running, with great plans to change the way business is done or bring in innovative policies and find they can’t get it all done at once, or that much more of the job than they realized consists of approving minor remodels, or discussing personnel issue than it does championing good government and sweeping reforms.  They get discouraged and end up one term legislators disappointing the public and their volunteers who worked so hard to get them elected in the first place.

            Of course, life is not predictable and there are many legitimate reasons for deciding not to run again, ranging from health issues, family necessity, change in job to a genuine dislike of being in the public eye.  

OK, you made the decision, now the work begins.

            Congratulations, you made the decision to run; now the work begins.  Make sure you know when the filing deadline is, usually 90 days before the election. Are there contribution limits in your race?  Your first task will be to file some forms, get a treasurer on board, and then start thinking about your campaign statement for the ballot.

           

            You might start attending meetings of the Board you are running for if you haven’t already.  Watch how they do things, what alliances exist, who you might count on as an ally. 

            Scope out the field to determine who else might be running in your race.  Ask people you trust who are involved in local politics what they think of you running. Will they support you?  Give money, actively volunteer? Start calling your friends and family for important early financial support.  Get your Facebook page up to date and send out that first press release announcing your run.  

            Then, win or lose, you can be sure you will have an interesting, challenging but ultimately rewarding experience.