#officeholders #RunForOffice #RunForSomething #voters #ElectedOfficials
Many people run for public office because they want to serve the people who elect them.
They have many ideas how to improve their communities, cities, towns, states, school systems etc.
Sometimes, when they actually get into office, other influences come to the fore.
A leader who expects loyalty may emerge. As an officeholder, you may find that not working with this leader, and his or her priorities, can create a miserable life for you.
Secondly, you may not get all the funding, personnel and other assets you may need to fulfill your goals.
You have no control over how much you get, and how many people you can have.
You begin to feel that everything you want to do is in jeopardy, and your good ideas are nothing more than that – good ideas. You become discouraged.
But, you may also be motivated because a certain number of people voted for you, over others.
You can’t make excuses to them as to why you are not doing as you say.
You have to try to accomplish some of what you can, with what you are given.
You should report only to voters, not to anyone else.
If the leader asks you, or forces you, to do things your voters do not want, you should not fear him or her.
You should remember that if voters can see that you are working only for them, you should get re-elected if you choose to run again.
If the voters can’t see that you are working only for them, and the leader doesn’t like what you are doing, he or she may put up someone to run against you.
That’s when you have to realize that public office is a temporary job. You can keep it. Or, you can lose it through no fault of your own.
If you expect the job to be permanent, and leave only on your terms, you are in the wrong line of work.
You have to learn that losing an election is NOT the end of the world. Voters are fickle. The same voters who voted to elect you may decide not to vote at all. Or, they may be so influenced by the show your opponent puts on that they are persuaded to vote for that person.
As long as you believe you did everything you could, with what you had, for those who voted for you, you will sleep at night.
As a public official, you have to listen to your voters. Their opinions and stories should be instructions to you on actions you should take.
(Attention voters: Your public officials need to hear from you at all times.)
Public office is no walk in the park. It’s hard work. It requires integrity, honesty, humility and selflessness.
Those who serve in office without those attributes should not be there.
You have to listen to your voters, because you are working on THEIR behalf.
So, run for office if it suits you. Don’t run if it does not. If you serve your voters well, you are most likely to be rewarded.
Peter