I'm not smart enough. I don't have the "calling". It costs a LOT of money. I have zero communication skills. My dog would be lonely without me around. How would I live at the Capitol of my state, I cannot afford a second house or rental expense? My spouse is fat, ugly, and screeches when talking.
These are probably the biggest reasons folks make as to why they don't want to become beacons of the community. Yea, it does take time to serve once you've been elected, but for the good of the country, your county or your city I think anybody could serve for a couple of years. The list of conditions to apply for the ballot is generally short, over a certain age and an American citizen, (or live within the state your are running within). And yes, I've never run for political office because I've never figured out how to get my name on the ballot. But since I'm no longer in the workforce, maybe it's time to rethink my reasons for not doing it.
If you've ever seen a ballot then you know that there are names on it that you have to vote for or against that you've never heard of before. You sit there and think, "OK, who should I vote for, I don't know who this person is". Heck, every election season I stand there and do the Russian Roulette of choosing. Tell me where I can find information online as to who the local candidates are and their views on the issues. Pretty nonexistent. Which might be a good reason for you to run. With the wave of Red becoming prominent, now could be the best time to get your name on the ballot as a Republican. When folks vote they usually vote a party line. Mainly that's what I do unless there is somebody I personally know or have heard about.
Now is the time to go to your county seat and begin the process of figuring out how to get your name on the ballot. Which office should I run for, you might ask? Your county officials will tell you offices which will be open. Start there. If you see a school board vacancy, then maybe it's your turn to sit on it. Sign up. I'd love to because the School Board Director in my school system is a real dog boy. He refuses to put pencils in students fingers. ABSOLUTELY REFUSES. Things like this should light a fuse under you seat. Want to get a little higher on the pecking order? How about becoming a Land Commissioner? Or a state Representative or Senator? Maybe even venture into rare air and toss your hat into the US Representative or Senate race. (Heck, Fetterman won, are you better than him?) Yea, that costs some money.
I'd say most folks on GAW are just common folks who don't have any extra cash to spend on a campaign. Yea, I'm there with you, but the local races are pretty much designed so the common man can participate. You're afraid because you don't know how much the filing fees are? Go to the county seat and ask. No campaign funds to get some huge billboards or call centers up and running? Just getting your name on the ballot is a big hill to overcome. But once you are on the ballot the only thing keeping you from winning (especially if you register as a R) is the changing of the numbers in the tabulators.(cough,cough, Dominion) This election cycle is fervent with folks wanting a change and since the Dems have driven the economy into the ground we are primed to pick up Dem votes. Just take this for what its worth, whenever I vote for a candidate, billboards, yard signs, internet ads, or robo calls do not persuade me from voting an R ticket. Just get your name on the ballot so the Dems have some competition. I hate seeing only one person running for an office, especially if that one person is a Dem.
Think about this. Chew on it. It might be up your alley, it might not. But at least contemplate it because this country needs patriots in office to direct where it will go in the future. Those patriots all must be in every level. From dog catcher to US Senator, we need you.
Thanks for taking the time to read this missive. Hopefully it will spark interest and begin something positive. God bless.
I think I have a greater impact being a math teacher in a rural school. Besides, I have Asperger's Syndrome and have difficulty speaking in public.