Answering Key Questions Before Deciding to Run
In an earlier blog post, I asked you “What is prompting you to consider a run for local office?” I suggested you answer it in a thoughtful way since you can expect to be asked why you are running many times over during your campaign.
Here are a few thoughts to ponder as you mull a race. Begin by asking yourself how you will serve your community once in office. Then make a list of issues that excite you. Tally up your personal, professional and civic qualifications. Then define your personal, professional, civic qualifications and how they relate to success in the office you seek. These are a few homework tasks for you to ponder your candidacy.
Answering Preliminary Questions
Here are other critical questions for you to consider as you ponder a race. They are thought-provoking questions to help you learn what underpins your decision to run, or not. There is no right or wrong answer. Take your time to answer each. Be honest. Anything short results in a decision based on faulty notions.
What prompts me to consider a run for office? A thoughtful answer is essential because throughout your campaign, you can expect to be asked it many times by media, potential contributors, and voters. The importance of your answer cannot be overstated. Begin by asking yourself how you will serve the community once in office. Make a list of issues that excite you. Tally up your personal, professional and civic qualifications. Then define your personal, professional, civic qualifications and how they relate to success in the office you seek.
Do I have the fire in the belly? In 1980 while on CBS' 60 Minutes show, Ted Kennedy gave an inadequate, insipid answer when questioned about why he was running for president. That event helped set in motion his campaign’s downhill course. Ted Kennedy lacked the fire in the belly, an essential for success on the campaign trail. Voters sense it and know when it is missing. If you alone contemplate your run for office, do you have the fire? If another is urging you to run, he or she may have the fire, but do you? Only you know the answer.
Will I be a one-issue candidate? Years ago a well-known basketball coach retired from the University of Washington and was drafted to run for city council of the city where he lived. He ran on no issue but only on his name recognition, and won by a solid margin. Once in office though, he arrived at each week’s council meeting unprepared, agenda packet still sealed. Those who voted for him and the overall community lost with him in office. One-issue candidates often find it tough to get traction and are frequently unsuccessful as elected officials. Often they lose interest in the sea of issues they face, grow bored, and avoid meetings. Some resign before their terms expire.
Do I dislike the incumbent? In 2011, an incumbent mayor of a mid-sized city in Washington State was challenged by a sitting council member. The council member filed against the popular mayor at the end of the last filing day only because no one had filed against the mayor. The result on Election Day: The popular mayor won by a 60/40 percent margin. The take away is that to base your campaign on dislike of the incumbent makes your race is more difficult. Short of the incumbent showing obvious faults, your efforts may well be losing ones.
Do I find the prestige or salary too attractive? If you do, look for another avocation. The fact is that when hours spent preparing for, and attending, meetings are factored in along with those spent networking with citizens, salaries paid to most local-office holders fail to meet effective minimum wage. And though prestige can be nice, but it is not a reason to seek public office.
What issues face my district? First list them. Then rank each issue either hot or sleeper, with sleeper meaning one that may heat up later. Include appropriate regional and national issues which may affect your district. Form your position on each and how you will deal with it if elected.
Who could be my opponent? Is there an incumbent? Does he or she exhibit exploitable weaknesses? If no incumbent, what about potential opponents?
The Take Away
Before committing to run, answer the foregoing questions honestly so that you have a realistic understanding of why you are considering a race, potential opponents and issues facing your community. It is only with a solid factual foundation that you can move from a possible candidate to a declared one.
