Impulse Post; This election made me realize something

[Anser]

I'm 30 years old. I have a college education and a law degree from a "well known" institution. I have a great passion for progress in this country, and watching it regress has been hard on me. People tell me I'm intelligent. I understand policy and how government works (From both a "book learning" perspective via education and from a "reality" perspective via my time working in DC and my political activism over the past 11 years.)


I really want to run for elected office and try to make a difference that way.


Of course just typing it out makes me feel a little silly. I was raised very poor (See, for example, my post: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=230x5074), and the mentality has always been that of course poor people can't really help run the government. I have no "connections." I'm not the most effusive and outgoing person.


But, yeah.. it may not be in the next couple years, but I need to run for something.

Thanks for listening.


-Anser (whose name was originally meant to be ironic)

[crazylikafox]

1. Go for it!!! We need people like you.

Maybe u can raise some money on DU when you're ready.

[Skinner]

2. Run.

Do it. Run. We need more people in office who do not come from privilege.

If you start small -- City council, county council, recorder of deeds, whatever -- then you will make connections.

Many small local offices can still be won by relative unknowns without having to raise huge amounts of money. You can do it.

[Anser]

11. Thank you for the supportive words

I'm definately going to start looking into local opportunities.

My wife is an elementary school teacher, and I am very active with my local school district (Volunteering, etc), so if nothing else I may start with the school board to get my name out there.

Plus I need to look into what kind of infrastructure local Democrats have. I live in a red congressional district in a red state (Remember good ole Mathhew-Shepard-story-was-a-hoax Virginia Foxx .. she's "my" rep :cry: )

[old mark]

3. Please let it be known here and on other Democratic sites when you start...

I have financially supported-to a very limited degree, but what I can manage-several democratic candidates on other states than mine this year, including Harry Reid (3 dontions to him alone).

We must start from the ground up to get the Democratic Party to represent to people instead of the corporations, or else we will have nothing and no one.

Good luck to you.

mark

[Anser]

12. Will do

Thanks for the positive words :)

[xchrom]

4. awesome -- do it. -- start small like skinner said

to make necessary connections -- and let everyone here -- dkos -- and other places that you are doing it.

[hfojvt]

5. I appreciate the fact that you grew up poor

but don't like it that you have a law degree. There are plenty of offices around though. If you start small, like City Council, State legislator, then you can win with hard work, but even then it can be expensive. One losing candidate told me he spent $10,000 of his own money to run for the legislature. I think he did a bad job of budgeting. He should have just spent a thousand on a flyer and done the rest with legwork. Goto events and hand out your flyer. Go knock on doors, etc.

Of course, I, a part time janitor with an economics degree ran for office myself. First for the water board, which was torture, especially considering that I won without even campaigning, and then for Congress where I lost a primary to a nobody after doing a ton of work and spending a fair amount of my own money. http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=153x9552

[Anser]

17. Heh, I'm not particularly thrilled...

About my law degree either. I went to law school with starry eyed hopes of changing the world for the better, and instead it turned out to be a place where my hope for humanity faltered a bit.

Thank you for your input and the link to that thread.

Speaking of input, what exactly did your position on the water board entail? I'm interested in an anecdotal, personal, account of what it is like holding such an office. How often did you meet, etc...

[hfojvt]

28. the water board meets twice a month

and usually votes however management proposes. Well, you get to ask questions and make proposals. I have been fighting to hold down rates, especially for the poorest customers, but that has been a lonely fight. It is an unpaid position which is really what makes it torture. I have learned quite a bit about the community though, and that makes it valuable. They email information on the agenda before the meetings. So this weekend I will spend a fair amount of time reading through it and then have the meeting on Monday night. So far there has not been much input from the public. The water board, until I ran for it would usually be two people running for two positions or three running for three positions, so my candidacy at least gave the voters a choice.

As far as the law degree, sometimes it seems like 80% of our elected representatives are lawyers. Myself I would rather be represented by a carpenter or something.

[Wednesdays]

6. Something that all DUers should strongly consider!

I know not everyone is cut out to run for office (I know I'm not), but to those who have even the slightest inclination, I'd encourage you all to try!

Perhaps we could have a DU forum for those just starting the political process? :shrug:

[sufrommich]

7. Go for it!! nt

[HereSince1628]

8. Well, practice hand shaking, and volunteer for every community

advisory board you can, including those of your county democratic party

You'll buid connections, calf muscles and calluses on your shaking hand while 'paying dues' and establishing a resume of commnity action/service.

Sooner than later you'll be connected and well enough known to put up yard signs with your own name on them.

[Anser]

22. Good advice

I'm checking into some county advisor board volunteer opportunities right now.

[nadinbrzezinski]

9. Connections

start by attending your LOCAL party meetings.

Also volunteer at it, AND run for local office to get yer feet wet.

Usually dems have a hell of a time recruiting people for things like the school board... and where do you think the right started their infiltration oh thirty years ago.

[lumberjack_jeff]

10. Absolutely run.

I was elected to city council of my little town when I was about your age. I did it for 12 years and the experience enriched me and improved my community.

Suffice to say, if I can do it, anyone can.

I don't know if my skillset would be useful at the state level (and certainly not the federal), but YMMV.

[arbusto_baboso]

13. Here's a tip; start out with something very small and local, like harbor commissioner or school

board. There won't be many opponents, you can have a big impact, and you'll make connections along the way to running for higher office.

[Anser]

14. Thank you, sounds like good advice

I was thinking maybe school board.

[arbusto_baboso]

16. You can put the skids to a lot of fundie nonsense on a school board.

The kids will benefit a great deal.

[butterfly77]

15. You are probably...

ONE OF THE ONES WE ARE WAITING FOR!!!

[Greyhound]

18. Good for you. What part of the country are you in? n/t

[Anser]

21. North Carolina. n/t

[Subdivisions]

19. Run, Anser, run! n/t

[handmade34]

20. Run Anser, Run

I have always said that I would eagerly run for office if I didn't have such a sordid past!

[Anser]

23. Of past and present...

A sordid past isn't necessarily a bar, just look at the previous president's past.

So you mean my boring past may actually be useful for once rather than something I have to explain.. "You've really never tried XYZ!?" or "You were HOW old when you had your first drink." etc ;)

Thanks for the supportive response. It wasn't easy getting where I am today, and it won't be easy creating my own tiny little blue dot somewhere down here in the south. But I'm definately willing to put in the work.

[handmade34]

24. you are correct

one's past doesn't seem to interfere as much as it used to. Seriously, I want to heartily encourage you to run for some sort of office... beyond my sordid past, I presently am homeless and that makes it impossible to represent anything. I have a job that has kept me on the road for 6 years and I long to have a home again someday. I grew up poor and worked hard to get my degree and keep myself afloat. I was local representative to the Vermont State Democratic Convention a couple of times and did some volunteer work in various capacities... If I had a home I would jump at the opportunity to run for anything open. Good Luck to you and keep us up to speed so we can support you in whatever endeavor you find yourself in.

[Anser]

25. Thanks DU

Thanks in part to your support and recs, what started as a timid impulse is coalescing into a dauntless plan of action.

I will keep you all posted as to what becomes of this plan in the coming months and years.

[Vehl]

26. You should run

It is obvious from reading your posts that you really do care deeply about the country. You should run for office. There are many who hold office but for petty reasons, you would be a fresh of breath air!

[plcdude]

27. Absolutely

do it run for Mayor who knows you could end up anywhere after that.