Running for Public Office

Some people say that they will run for public office, but never do. They complain, complain, and complain. For some, complaining is a fulltime job. I read many Hubs and many letters to the Editors on politics, and nearly all the authors neither held office nor even tried to. It is the equivalent of telling people how to swim when they never been to the beach. I call these people, critics.

      Every two years where I live, elections are held for County Supervisors. There are twenty-five posts. The county was cut up into twenty-five districts of about three thousand citizens each. There were several uncontested races including the one I was living in. I told my wife that I would throw my hat into the ring. She says, “Do I even own a hat?”

     The first thing I needed was to get twenty five people in my district to sign my petition.  I live in a rural area. Houses are far apart here. I would drive up to a house wondering where is the front door? I guess and knock on the door. No one would answer, just the movement of curtains I did spy. When the home owner did answer, they were appalled when I asked them to please sign my petition running against their favorite son as it were. They regarded me as the devil’s spawn. I was from Chicago, and it seems that some people of Wisconsin hate Illinoisans. I bought a greenhouse business in town recently that was closed for three years where I grew and sold the best garden plants they ever saw.

     In my journey to get my petition signed, I found two women who informed me that their men told them that they cannot vote. I said the Constitution has granted them the right to vote back in the twenties. They back away and closed the door. Others that did sign wanted to be informed that when I was in office I would warn them when the city would initiate annexation of their properties into the city. I found there was this great fear and hatred for the city. They feared most, higher taxes.

     After stopping at about eighty houses, I finally have twenty-eight signatures. Always get a few more just encase. The local newspaper invited candidates to answer their questions.  I didn’t quite answer their questions. I rewrote the questions they should have asked and answered those. The newspaper didn’t like that and wrote that in the paper. I also was invited to go on the local radio. My opponent didn’t show up. Oh well, I thought. The announcer asked me questions. But I had to answer in the middle of weather reports, sports, contests, commercials, and the less than colorful banter between the announcer and callers.

      My platform at the time was that the county government should set the example and employ only fulltime employees. Too many companies employ part-timers to decrease cost to the detriment of the citizenry. I also thought that no one should run unopposed. I lost with less than a hundred votes with my opponent garnering more than four hundred. Over the years, I have come to the conclusion that less local government is the answer. The County could do better with half as many County Supervisors. I also believe we could do without the state senate. More could get done faster with less. In this Conservative atmosphere that will not happen.

     Every two years, the local newspaper would lament the lack of public participation in our government. They cite examples of uncontested races and low turnout at meetings. I have been to these meetings. They have their minds made up and want no public input.

     At a meeting about the control of the “Emerald Ash Bore,” An insect that kills ash trees in a year or two. The problem that has been around for nearly eight years, but that government agency could not figure it out. If the newspaper had carried my garden column they would all know. The local TV news knows only sports and bar news, and wouldn’t know an Emerald Ash Borer from a ruby nose drunk. If the local government was looking for help, you wouldn’t know it. I never received a call, I’m in the phone book.

     I had read the newspaper’s online forms and had found the majority of participants hate most every local office holder and to any that might want to hold office. I went through the process, and now I have the perfect license to say, “You better do right, and I will…hold you to it.” After all, I am thinking you all reserve each other.