Would you consider running for an elected office?

[Meldread]

I am interested in knowing how many DU Members here would consider running for an elected office. If you haven't considered it why not? If you have, why haven't you? I'll post my response in a following post.

[HEyHEY]

1. I get closer to it every day

[Meldread]

2. I would like to run for office...

I would like to run for office, but I know I have no hope of winning. I live in an extremely conservative district, and being a democrat (and worse: a gay one) I know I have no hope of winning. Gays and Democrats alike are actively called servants of Satan in my local Newspaper.

[jsamuel]

3. too young still

[LSparkle]

4. I'd like to run but have too many skeletons in the closet ...

As our Dear Leader says, "When I was young and irresponsible, I was young and ... VERY irresponsible." But at least I had a good time!

[HeeBGBz]

35. Yup, them bones would rattle

My campaign slogan would have to be

"So? You're point is?"

Every time someone would unearth another one.

[trotsky]

5. I have no interest in running for an elected office because...

I'm an atheist. Fewer people would vote for me than would vote for a racial minority, a Jew, or even a homosexual. Polls consistently show atheists, as a group, are despised more than anyone else. Even among Democrats.

[Dr.Phool]

29. I did run for Congress last year, skeletons and all.

I'm also an atheist, and the first speech I gave on the campaign was to Americans United for Seperation of Church and State.

I said, "to hell with it", if nobody else is going to run against this 10 term Republican, I will. I got in too late to raise enough money to qualify, but I had a great time, and met a lot of great people. It's grueling work though. You're on the road 7 days a week, all day. I had to leave a campaign flyer on the kitchen counter, so my wife would remember what I looked like.

I promised her I wouldn't run this time, and we had 3 people running in the primary, and I didn't care for any of them, and was almost ready to file again. Two of them were Repubs until a month ago, with one of them still repeating the Swift Boat lies. The third was new to the area, and had interned at AIPAC, and was very conservative.

Luckily, a woman I think a great deal of, with a great electoral resume, filed last month. She can win, and has my support.

[nini]

6. I want to run

but I had a child and was not married and I know I will get raked over the coals for that.. which is too bad because I would do a good job.

BUT we all know about negative campaigns and I wouldn't put my mom through this crap.

[OKNancy]

7. Several people have asked me, but...

I'm too liberal, don't go to church, and have too many skeletons in the closet.

[pbca]

8. When I lived in the US

before immigrating to Canada I was asked by the Chair of my local Democratic Central Committee to run for the State Legislature (I was 24 at the time) - I explored it, but was more progressive than most of the central committee and I said that I would only say what I really thought, that I wouldn't pull any punches, and that I wouldn't tow the party line if I didn't believe the party line was correct. I had some valiant supporters but it caused such infighting that the parties ability to fight any elections was being jeapordized and I finally withdrew my name and shortly thereafter resigned from the DCC.

[azmouse]

9. I wouldn't run and I don't have any skeletons in my closet.

I've never used drugs so no scandal there. I'm married to my first boyfriend so no there are no sex scandals to dig up and use against me. No DUI, no arrests of any kind.
But with the nasty campaigns that are run today I'm sure an opponent would find me so squeaky clean that THAT would be how they would tear me down. I haven't enough experience of life.

[MadisonProgressive]

18. You'd be swiftboated for sure!

[KharmaTrain]

46. Rumor Has It You're A Thesbian

...and a practicing heterosexual who likes to masticate at home with people of a different color/race/religion. You're toast!

[ixion]

10. I was involved with politics in college, and

saw it for what it really was at that point.

Politics, in it's current form, is nothing more than a massive kickback game and power conduit. It no longer has anything to do with We, the People, IMO.

[SteppingRazor]

11. You think YOU'VE got too many skeletons?

I've helped on a campaign or two, and provided advice to a few candidates here and there, but that's the best I can do. I've got an arrest record, for starters. Also, the latter half of my life has included consumption of a wide array of chemical intoxicants, the use of which has been witnessed by myriad friends and enemies, not to mention occasionally documented in the press.

Yeah, I don't think I'd survive public scrutiny.

[MuseRider]

12. I would love to but have not

because I have WAY too many past issues, lol.

Also I find that I speak only slightly better than George Bush** when faced with questions. Isn't that the saddest thing?

So I start boards and sit on boards and work my ass off in smaller ways and shake myself silly whenever I end up on the TV speaking. Thankfully it does not happen very often.

[stop the bleeding]

13. I would love to run and people have asked me, however until people can

get past the weed thing I don't think it is even worth my time. Outside of that I have a clean criminal history and no other skeletons in my closet.

I have often thought of running anyway and just being straight up about the smoking thing, I just do not know how one could turn this from a negative thing into something that is a non issue without trying to make it a/the central issue to the campaign. Until the day comes when American's can be a little relaxed like our European counter parts in regards in how this is viewed, I'll have to be resigned to watching this game from the sidelines.

[LynzM]

14. I would think about running for local office

But like many others, too many skeletons. Pics out there on 'the internets', a child born less than 9 months after we got married, atheism, you name it.

[MH1]

15. Election Inspector -Well...it's almost like a technicality....but

technically, I hold an elected office - I am an Election Inspector in my precinct. I had to get a few sigs and post some notices, and my name was actually on the ballot. It wasn't exactly competitive though.

But, it is technically an elected office. So I am the first in that category in your poll!

(edited to clarify the title)

[MadisonProgressive]

16. This is why not!

[MadisonProgressive]

17. dupe

[lpbk2713]

19. Not for me, thanks.

Ever since Gingrich gained prominence, anyone who runs for political office is assumed to be a sleazebag of the highest order by the American public in general. The RWers vote for whichever sleazebag they think will do them the most good. Regretably, Dems don't have much of a chance with rigged elections.

[ScooterKen]

20. I am a member of the Democratic Town Committee

That is sorta-kinda-quasi like an elected office.
Well, not really.

:)

[Swamp Rat]

21. I'd rather share power equally in an egalitarian society, so my answer is

NO!

[...of J.Temperance]

40. Yes I'm going to run and Swamp Rat is going to be my campaign manager

I'm going to run in 2007...so you've got a gig Mr. Swamp Rat :)

[Swamp Rat]

41. Maybe "campaign artist in residence" .. I promise I won't paint you green.

But your opponent better not let me find a single photo. :D

[...of J.Temperance]

42. I'll supply you with a DAILY supply of photos of my opponent!

At my campaign rallies maybe you could also play a bit of Brazilian music to warm up the crowds eh?

The Bugman looks positively radioactive in that picture.

:)

[Swamp Rat]

43. Well, I'll need an Apple Powerbook, desktop, Adobe CS2, Final Cut Studio,

etc., then we'll be cooking lizard jambalaya at your victory party. :9

[...of J.Temperance]

44. You got it!

My campaign finances can cover all of that :)

Has Pickles decapitated Junior there? Condi's obviously coming out of the ether someplace.



:scared:

[stillcool]

22. a variety of skeletons...with

mental illness overtones. Not a chance.

[Missy Vixen]

23. Here's what happened

I am a former city councilmember in our hometown. I was appointed to the council in 2002; I am proud to say that I beat out 10 other people to be voted in, several of which are now on the city council :crazy:. I worked really, really hard for 14 months, then had to run for reelection.

I lost. Here are the reasons why.

1. I didn't brag about my accomplishments; I thought the work would speak for me. One has to brag in order to keep and hold political office.
2. I didn't run a very good campaign.
3. I was very, very truthful in public about a local project that would be a disaster for our community. I don't regret this. Those in public office have a moral imperative to tell the truth, no matter how painful.

Will I run again? I'm not sure. I learned a lot. I don't regret it at all.

DH just got done running for mayor of our hometown. He lost, but he lost to someone who's been campaigning for over a year, and switched parties to make himself more "viable". We're going to sit back and enjoy watching him NOT be able to do the things he promised to do over the next 4 years. DH says that he doesn't regret it, either.

Here are my thoughts about running for political office. Anyone who has any interest at all should do so. If you live in a small to medium sized community, school board and City Council positions often go unchallenged because people think that they have skeletons in their closets, or they can't raise money. Please, if you are in the USA, get thee to a Camp Wellstone weekend, and learn all you need to know about running for office. Running for office is stressful. It's not glamorous. At the same time, the opportunity to be of service is something that will stretch your horizons.

The skeleton thing. Don't worry about it. Your opponent may have worse ones than you do; they won't want theirs brought out, either. When you run for higher office, you will have people that will deal with the "skeletons".

Things will never change unless everyone here takes an active part in their democracy. We are the ones we've waited for.

Julie

[stop the bleeding]

25. thank you, do you have any information on that Camp Wellstone?

After reading your post you have given me something to chew on.

[Missy Vixen]

28. Here's a link to Camp Wellstone

http://www.wellstone.org

Senator Paul Wellstone is one of my heroes. He was a true public servant, as was his wife, Sheila. Camp Wellstone is worth whatever you have to do to get there; it is the most valuable political instruction I have ever had the opportunity to get.

Good luck, and if you have any questions, please let me know.

Julie

[Canuckistanian]

24. No way. Not me.

I'd rather have a three-hour anal probe. Much less invasive.

[iconoclastNYC]

26. Politics will change me

I dont think I want to be an insider.

27. Maybe

If I lived in a small town full of liberals.

[Taxloss]

30. I don't want to. I tried it at university.

I ultimately served a term as college union vice-president that was considered to be quite successful, but far from stellar. No major screw-ups, a couple of creditable achievements, and a background of humdrum, adequate administration. I then launched a bid to become university union president, on a platform of quite radical reforms. I started as rank outsider in a two-horse race and lost heavily, but had managed to improve my rating over the course of the campaign. (The guy who won is now considered to have led a disastrous administration, which gives me no end of pleasure even though the same problems would have hit me.)

What I learned was that politics really isn't where the game is at. Politicians are held back and restricted by the groups that got them into office. Plus, the horrible infighting, betrayals, cheating and backbiting involved was sickening. It felt as though - with the best of intentions - I spent most of my time thwarting the plans of others rather than advancing my own. It also taught me that next to nothing is ever done in a meeting, and the less time spent in meetings the better.

So I found the whole experience very valuable. But never again. Never.

[zalinda]

31. I'd love to but

I don't think I have the temperment to do so. One of the reasons I am my own small business.

zalinda

[in_cog_ni_to]

32. I don't have the temperament for it. Admittedly, I get too pissed off.

See....:grr::nuke:

[froshty1960]

33. I'd like to run for office

I'd like to run for office, but I can't in my home state of NC because I'm a divorced, single mother, who had a wild time in college and an abortion. One of my daughters is an outspoken atheist, too.

[KamaAina]

34. For one, I keep moving around too much.

Never have been able to, as they say, "put down roots in a community".

For another, I'm imagining the reaction of the electorate: "Look! That crazy guy from TheBus is running for City Council!" (I have been known to suffer from "bus rage".)

[FtWayneBlue]

36. Yes, I will run someday -

but right now I work a 46 hr week - commute 6 hrs a week and am taking 6 credit hours of college per semester, working on a bachelors degree. Plus I have a wife that I enjoy spending time with. So I just can't right now. But I want to - and support those that do - especially the underdogs like DK.

[Telly Savalas]

37. After the "Guys Who Went to College With Telly for Truth" campaign

I'd be so fucked.

Otherwise, I'd definately jump at an opportunity to do it. (If I actually lived in a place where I was a citizen, that is.)

[PowerToThePeople]

38. Could not do it. Would only want to volunteer for service....

But I do not have the means to be a "public servant."

[Meldread]

39. LOL. A lot of people with skeletons. -nt-

[crispini]

45. Well, Precinct Chair in the Dem Party is an elected office,

technically, and even if you have skeletons in your closet, nobody really cares all that much. :D