Getting in to getting out the vote

So you’re running for office.

Congratulations.

No, really.

I commend your effort and desire to make things better.

There are a few things you should know though.

People are going to start giving you their “Here’s what you need to do …” speech.

I won’t be doing that here.

Folks will be telling you to “Go door to door”, “Get out and knock on some doors” and the like.

The reason I never did that when I ran two years ago is that A.) I’m basically lazy and B.) I don’t like it when people come to my door trying to sell something (or anything), so why would I do that to other people?

GREASING THE WHEEL

If you are serious about winning you will have to spend some money. I am not just talking about newspaper ads (obviously I think that’s a good way to go—voters DO read), there is radio to consider along with signs, flyers, cards, bumper stickers and the like.

Now that you’ve filed, there are plenty of companies that will get your name from the list of those running and will start deluging you with your political advertising options.

Campaign spending adds up pretty quick, and even though I said I wouldn’t be telling you what needs to be done, there is one thing you should most definitely do: KEEP YOUR RECEIPTS! It is also quite helpful to keep them in ONE place.

You will have to report campaign expenditures along with any donations that you get for your cause.

You will have to file these monetary transactions before the primary, after the primary and (if you make it that far) both before and after the general election too.

It is dreary to start with, but if you don’t keep a pretty tight handle on it it can become downright frustrating.

Consider it a primer to actually getting elected … the tedium train is just leaving the station.

TALKING THE TALK

Now comes the fun part.

You will be interviewed.

It is possible you will be taken out of context.

I felt satisfied with the radio interview I did … except that when the interview part was over the announcer said something along the lines of “… and Keith plans on using the newspaper as his soapbox”. That was incorrect and actually one of the reasons I decided not to run again. While running I no longer had the freedom to write about whatever I wanted to write about.

I didn’t bother to respond to the very slight slight. I like to think intelligent people listen to what is actually being said by the candidate and filter out most of any editorializing that gets added.

Being interviewed is intimidating though.

I was even a little nervous when the guys here at the Sun interviewed me for the primary and general election sections—and those were friends of mine (Unbiased and professional—as it should be. But still friends).

It helps if you know the issues and what is going on. Umms and Uhs don’t sound very good as part of an answer.

Now that you have studied the issues you will be asked to come tell the public about your views during at least one Meet the Candidate Forum.

I, like a lot of people, am scared of public speaking.

Fortunately, I got over all that long enough to get past the night fairly well (or so I was told).

I think getting through that helped me be a little less shy though.

Quit laughing.

THICKEN THAT SKIN

So, you’ve won.

I didn’t, but still think I can help with some advice since I follow politics a bit.

You will now be doing a very tough, and mostly thankless, job.

It will be boring.

It will require homework.

You will have to deal professionally with people you do not like.

You will have to listen to those same people.

It will basically suck your will to live … and you will be called names for your troubles.

You will have to learn to separate your elected position from your private self.

This is extremely hard to do.

Please try though.

We don’t need a grumpy mayor or grumpy councilperson.

Every governor, senator or representative I have ever met seems to be almost abnormally giddy to meet me even though they are surely being grilled for something somewhere.

We don’t want Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, just some equilibrium.

I’m sure it takes practice … or at least the right personality.

For example: I might rabidly take issue with something an elected official does in their official capacity, but can still be friendly to the person outside the dilemma.

Here’s a good way to think about it. When someone cuts you off or does something stupid while driving around here, I automatically cuss and scream at the offender. When I see that it is someone I like driving the car, I start to calm down. I still don’t like the action that occurred (and may give them grief for it later), but I still like the person.

I hope I have helped you learn some small part of what you are getting yourself into.

At least you can do something very few people can claim to have done ... vote for yourself on an actual ballot.

Good luck.