An unsolicited political suggestion for candidates considering a run for office

A lot of people are saying they plan to run for office this year. From commissioner to town council to special districts to state legislature. Great news. We need more people to do so. 

Here is a suggestion: If you aren’t already, please go to the meetings to learn more about the role of said elected office. A friend from a neighboring town mentioned they might run for a council seat. I asked if they had ever attended a council meeting. The answer was no. Interesting. 

Another person was complaining about budgets. She/he is going to run for office to straighten out the budget mess. Asked if they were planning on going to the budget meetings for the agency and had plans to attend the regular/special meetings. I love my friend, but the blank look on her/his face made me sad. She/he has never thought about that. 

It is wonderful that people want to be involved, make a difference and run for office. At the same time, many of us need to be informed and learn more about the organization, district, office, etc. before we are elected. It is super easy to say we will make changes once we are in the office. It is also a reality that when we get in that office, we find things must be a done a certain way because of statutes, constitutionality, by-laws, etc. Be involved AND be informed.