In just two days, we are going to receive some election results, both for the primary, and for our local elections.
The media barrage will abruptly stop. Television and radio stations will stave off financial ruin for another two-year cycle, and the post office will not have a ridiculous number of “super jumbo” post cards to deliver. The folks who designed and printed those cards are thankful for the work; so are the paper mills who made the paper, and the printshop who printed them. I know postal service employees appreciate the overtime.
Political candidates will have met the account manager for the billboard company, representatives from the broadcast stations, and editors and others from our local newspapers.
The people who chose to run for political office will have met a lot of nice, like-minded people, they will have knocked on a lot of doors, and be politely or otherwise told to “GET OFF MY PORCH!”
They will huddle with family on Tuesday night when the results come in, the excitement building, and then elation or disappointment, but everyone involved in this process is a winner.
Everyone.
If you were seeking public office and you had a primary, you find out if the people think you ought to come back for another round in November.
If this is THE election, you find out if you won.
But you did already because you stood up. You did the right things. You grew thicker skin. You were a part of the economic engine for the valley in a very direct way. Win or lose at the ballot box, you won. You won because you know more people. You won because the more you speak in public, the better you speak in public. You won because you were part of the elective process that creates our government.
What’s remarkable to me is the number of people who will come back for another “bite at the apple,” either because they didn’t prevail or because they want to seek higher office.
Yes, it gets the endorphins going, but it’s also at least partially driven by service.
We should all thank every one of the candidates for putting themselves out there.
Each and every candidate took time from their families, from their hobbies, and from their work to run for political office. Without them, the process of our brand of democracy does not work.
Invariably, there will be some troll, some “know it all” hiding behind a keyboard who will make insulting claims about the candidates who didn’t win at the ballot box. Those negative trolls wouldn’t have a thing to talk about if someone else didn’t step up, take a stand and run for office. Once again, the troll demonstrated they just don’t get it, and that they are still likely some kind of weirdo anyway.
Remember candidates, without you, they have nothing. It’s amazing how contagious winning can be.
When you see one or more of the candidates this Wednesday, thank them. I’m certain that they will be thanking you. If they won their election, congratulate them, and congratulate their family for supporting them through this process. Recognize that running for office made them just a little bit better than they were before.
So, how about you the next time? Are you going to step up? There’s another election cycle in a couple of years. Are you and yours ready? Yes, it’s going to take time, sweat and money.
Just like the carnival midway hawker inviting you to “STEP RIGHT UP!,” your contribution to service is open to you.
There’s one thing for certain – everyone’s a winner.
