Like many of our readers, pondering politics leaves me with a sense of extreme frustration. The problems of the U.S. Congress, Senate, Supreme Court and President seem so large and looming, and I sometimes feel small and useless in my ability to effect any change. That is when I remind myself that big things often start small. In our political landscape, nothing happens by chance. Things happen by mindful, intentional planning.
Do you ever stop and think about where Congressional and Senate Representatives get their start? Most of them don’t just decide to run for office right out of their office or manufacturing job. Most start at levels of school boards, city councils, county boards or government advisory committees. It begins innocently enough, with most local candidates just desiring to serve their local communities. But what is important is to take note of those who shift around. Those who seem to be on an upward trajectory from a committee to an elected office; from a village board to the county board. Those are the folks who often wind up in the state legislature and some, from there, to the federal level.
The saying, “All politics are local” is quite true. That’s why it is critically important that you choose a candidate for local office as carefully as you do a Congressional seat or the President. For a couple of decades now, many people have voted for local candidates like a popularity contest when contested, or were simply content to let an uncontested candidate serve time and time again. Both approaches have resulted in what we have now … a group of mostly elite government representatives who use their position to strengthen their own affiliations and advocate for their own desires and not always those of their constituency.
With all the recent happenings at the national level, have you paid attention to how your local representatives are responding? Those that are supposedly representing their local areas made up of Democrats, Independents and Republicans are often outspoken in lock-step with a party. They purposefully ignore the feelings and opinions of half their constituents. Do you expect them to be any different in Congress or the Senate?
Now is the time to begin talking with good people about running for next spring’s elections. There needs to be time for discussion, thought and a lot of times people need to learn the process. March is not a good time to begin seeking out good people who can put their own interests aside and work for their communities at large. Give it some thought. Talk to friends and neighbors. Let’s begin growing a crop of new politicians in the spirit of the original intent to ‘Preserve, protect and defend the United States of America” which starts by electing local leaders who understand how to serve their constituents at every level of government.
RCF is Here to Help!
Here are a couple resources to get you started:
Someone from our Candidate & Campaign Committee would be happy to speak with you directly as well. If you are interested in further assistance, please contact us at rockcountywifirst@gmail.com
