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The W - One Question... - Would you ever consider running for public office?
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Oliver
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Since: 20.6.02

Since last post: 3305 days
Last activity: 3299 days
#1 Posted on | Instant Rating: 4.27
After giving some thought to it, I've decided to run for city council here...in three years. I'm tired of the representation in my riding - I've never once met the people we elected in the four years I've lived here. I want openness in politics. I want open conversation with my constituents. I honestly believe I can make a difference.

So, my question to the W's here: Have you ever considered running for office? If so, why? If not, why not? Have you? Did it work? What did you learn from it?



There are days where I miss the Dreamcast.
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AWArulz
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Since: 28.1.02
From: Louisville, KY

Since last post: 90 days
Last activity: 90 days
#2 Posted on | Instant Rating: 5.52
no. I have no plans of giving up my privacy and that is something you lose if you run for office,



We'll be back right after order has been restored here in the Omni Center.

That the universe was formed by a fortuitous concourse of atoms, I will no more believe than that the accidental jumbling of the alphabet would fall into a most ingenious treatise of philosophy - Swift

Whitebacon
Banger








Since: 12.1.02
From: Fresno, CA

Since last post: 110 days
Last activity: 10 days
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#3 Posted on
CRZ ran for mayor once. He even blogged about it on YouTube.
Guru Zim
SQL Dejection
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Since: 9.12.01
From: Bay City, OR

Since last post: 4 days
Last activity: 3 days
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#4 Posted on | Instant Rating: 9.14
I've resigned from the Tillamook Urban Renewal association twice during meetings. I have a strong dislike for public office, which I did not have before serving in the association.

I think you'll probably not win, but if you did, you would probably hate it.




Sign up for Folding@Home and join our team. PM me for details.

Ignorance is bliss for you, hell for me.
Oliver
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Since: 20.6.02

Since last post: 3305 days
Last activity: 3299 days
#5 Posted on | Instant Rating: 4.27
    Originally posted by Guru Zim
    I've resigned from the Tillamook Urban Renewal association twice during meetings. I have a strong dislike for public office, which I did not have before serving in the association.

    I think you'll probably not win, but if you did, you would probably hate it.
Thanks for the vote of confidence! Hahaha!

In all seriousness, I believe my city is broken. It's a common belief that City Council just doesn't care - our former mayor has a reputation of being a crybaby scrooge who has a tendancy of being immature at times. Our current mayor is a decent fellow, but there's still a sense that City Council really don't do anything, and that's something I want to reverse.

Would I win? I don't know. I have a lot of respect for someone who ran in the last election: this gentleman ran for Mayor, he admitted he didn't know everything but is willing to learn. He also spent maybe $500 on his campaign. I was proud to vote for him, and while he didn't win, it was a vote that didn't go to those who took in over 100K in donations and spent that much. I believe in fiscal responsibility, doing the most with the least, and being completely open and available to those who need me.



There are days where I miss the Dreamcast.
El Nastio
Banger








Since: 14.1.02
From: Ottawa Ontario, by way of Walkerton

Since last post: 33 days
Last activity: 18 days
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#6 Posted on | Instant Rating: 4.69
Our last city councilor did nothing for nearly ten years. Literally, all he did was maybe one BBQ a year, and even then it wasn't promoted and held in an isolated area.

New guy got voted in:

- Roads are now being repaired.
- He hosts several community events.
- Very active with visiting schools, hosts year-end community BBQ's at the schools to celebrate and also try to recruit new families.
- Within two months of being voted in, a PEDESTRIAN CROSSWALK which has been requested for YEARS was approved and built in less than a month. This same area people used to have to wait more than 10 minutes to cross the road and would always miss city buses as a result.

So yeah, things CAN change with a good city councilor.





"You can't put a price on integrity"
Mr Heel II
Lap cheong








Since: 25.2.02

Since last post: 1881 days
Last activity: 1617 days
#7 Posted on | Instant Rating: 4.10
If you're motivated and think you can make a difference, go for it. Just know that no matter what you do, some people will trash your name and spew hatred at you for no other reason than you're a politician or a member of a specific party.
Leroy
Boudin blanc








Since: 7.2.02

Since last post: 3 days
Last activity: 50 min.
#8 Posted on | Instant Rating: 8.43

I sat on a Parks & Recreation board (elected, although I ran unopposed) and a PAC/GPAC (appointed, back when CA had RDAs).

My advice - start attending city council meetings on a regular basis (as well as any subcommittee meetings that occur, especially meetings concerning the budget). Learn the major projects for which money is currently allocated. Have some understanding of the laws (or at least know of those laws) surrounding your position (in CA, there are things like the Brown Act and, for State agencies, the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act). Talk with city leaders, community leaders, and groups that you feel would benefit from being your constituents and begin making your case.

Keep in mind that you're essentially applying for a full time job - a job in which you can have a lot of direct impact in the quality of life of other people.
pieman
As young as
he feels








Since: 11.12.01
From: China, Maine

Since last post: 111 days
Last activity: 5 days
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#9 Posted on | Instant Rating: 7.14


I have been an elected member of our town's Finance Committee for the last 10 years or so. As the only person on the seven person board with any finance background it is frustrating, but I feel like it my civic duty to educate and assist. Serving on the board, I think I have had some influence over our tax rate as well. It is a pretty big time commitment for generally little real progress and very little (or in my case, no) compensation.



dunkndollaz
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Since: 3.1.02
From: Northern NJ

Since last post: 1639 days
Last activity: 1095 days
#10 Posted on | Instant Rating: 6.40
My skeletons have houses full of closets.



I know my kids are trying to kill me


geemoney
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Since: 26.1.03
From: Naples, FL

Since last post: 3 days
Last activity: 2 min.
#11 Posted on | Instant Rating: 7.86
I don't think I have thick enough skin to run for public office. But my dad spent 10 years on the school board and in April 2013 was elected mayor of my hometown. I loved getting behind-the-scenes info from his days on the board (esp. since I was still a student there for seven of those years) and as mayor. But I could certainly see how stressful it could be and how it takes a toll on you mentally.



@gregmparks - live Tweeting of Raw and Impact, wrestling thoughts and other slices of life.
DrDirt
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Since: 8.10.03
From: flyover country

Since last post: 2336 days
Last activity: 2238 days
#12 Posted on | Instant Rating: 9.60
I ran for City Council in our very small community and my opponents spread more crap than at a dairy farm. That and i said what I thought was the truth not what people wanted to hear. I lost.



Perception is reality
Guru Zim
SQL Dejection
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Since: 9.12.01
From: Bay City, OR

Since last post: 4 days
Last activity: 3 days
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#13 Posted on | Instant Rating: 9.14
Just keep in mind that if you know what the Brown act, sunshine act, and open meetings act are about - you'll probably resign during an Executive session, too.




Sign up for Folding@Home and join our team. PM me for details.

Ignorance is bliss for you, hell for me.
CRZ
Big Brother
Administrator








Since: 9.12.01
From: ミネアポリス

Since last post: 17 days
Last activity: 8 days
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#14 Posted on | Instant Rating: 9.10
I think I got the bug out of my system, but we'll see how our current mayor is doing, if she runs for re-election, and what malarkey might happen with the filing fee before 2017.

Oliver, please take this the wrong way, but you definitely shouldn't run for anything unless you first provide me with popcorn.



Zeruel
Thirty Millionth Hit
Moderator








Since: 2.1.02
From: The Silver Spring in the Land of Mary.

Since last post: 1666 days
Last activity: 1666 days
#15 Posted on | Instant Rating: 6.12
    Originally posted by AWArulz
    no. I have no plans of giving up my privacy and that is something you lose if you run for office,


    Originally posted by dunkndollaz
    My skeletons have houses full of closets.


For those two reasons, I am 99% sure I will not run. I also have a(n) (in)famous name (Michael Moore) that got me death threats on facebook until I figured out privacy settings for incoming messages. I think I could probably get some liberal votes on my name alone.

I have lived in my county my entire life. My GF and our roommate are both originally from somewhere else and only came to this area to get their MPAs. Because of the primary we just had, they asked me what I (dis)liked about the candidates and I have alot of ideas to make this area because I think they are doing only enough to get (re)elected.

Our roommate is the one who actually wants to work in local government so if she is appointed a city/village manager (her short-term goal right now), I hope to be able to whisper in her ear from time to time.



-- 2006 Time magazine Person of the Year --



-- July 2009 Ordained Reverend --
Oliver
Scrapple








Since: 20.6.02

Since last post: 3305 days
Last activity: 3299 days
#16 Posted on | Instant Rating: 4.27
    Originally posted by CRZ
    I think I got the bug out of my system, but we'll see how our current mayor is doing, if she runs for re-election, and what malarkey might happen with the filing fee before 2017.

    Oliver, please take this the wrong way, but you definitely shouldn't run for anything unless you first provide me with popcorn.
Buttered or kettle corn?

I've brought the idea to some people I know, namely my best friends, and they love what I'm saying and what I want to accomplish. Now, translating that to an audience of people who don't know me...that's the challenge.

CRZ, what did you think of the entire process of running for office?



There are days where I miss the Dreamcast.
Matt Tracker
Scrapple








Since: 8.5.03
From: North Carolina

Since last post: 111 days
Last activity: 5 days
#17 Posted on | Instant Rating: 8.94
Yes, and I told The Lovely Mrs. Tracker that if the local radio preacher runs for office as he has intimated, I will run against him just to scuttle his chances of election. I don't care to get elected. That will happen to whomever the third candidate is.



"To be the man, you gotta beat demands." -- The Lovely Mrs. Tracker
Wpob
Bierwurst








Since: 21.11.02
From: Williston Park, NY

Since last post: 1444 days
Last activity: 1210 days
#18 Posted on | Instant Rating: 5.64
Never. It is one of the jobs in life I have always said I would never do. I do no understand why anyone who does not have a clean slate would ever run for office.



Life is hilariously cruel.


It ain't the six minutes... it's what happens in that six minutes.


I....declare.....BANKRUPTCY!!!!


He's a habitual line stepper.
Oliver
Scrapple








Since: 20.6.02

Since last post: 3305 days
Last activity: 3299 days
#19 Posted on | Instant Rating: 4.28
    Originally posted by Wpob
    Never. It is one of the jobs in life I have always said I would never do. I do no understand why anyone who does not have a clean slate would ever run for office.
Simple. I want to because I want change. There are too many things I want to see happen in my town, and not nearly enough movement (if any at all) in the direction they need to go. Some would be ridiculously easy to implement (priority left hand turning at a major intersection) but others would be a bigger challenge, like changing zoning restrictions and regulations to see proper development of abandoned stores to invite new development.

The last one is especially important to me: there's a number of stores that are sitting vacant that would make for great flea markets or whatever else but the zoning laws rules prohibit it. Also, another store that's closed - the former company holds a covenant that allows them to kibosh anyone who wants to buy their former location: I want that abolished.



There are days where I miss the Dreamcast.
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