Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Considering Running for Office?

Well I have, numerous times. First and foremost I am for termed positions in local, state, and federal elected positions. Albert Einstein said that insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results. When you have the same elected officials in office, churning their same old ideas and rhetoric, and playing the same old political games, this government will never change. I am for putting fresh people, average Joe's like you and me into office with ground roots ideas, who know more of the hardships on Main street than on Wall street. Also the main fact that the average Joe's will not be corrupted in politics and we'll have their terms served before they can truly become corrupted in politics, therefore the best interest of the people are truly at the top of mind when decisions are made.

So what does it take for a person to run for an elected position? What keeps the majority of people who want to make this leap from doing so? I've asked these same questions and pondered for quite sometime where to get started, what qualifies you as a candidate, and I think the number one reason that detours people from running, how do you make a living doing it? Throughout this post I will be referring to the State of Tennessee, its laws/qualifications because Tennessee is all I know and obviously where I call home. For those of you reading this in the other 49 check your state's qualifications, but at the end of the day the same principles apply.

What qualifies a person to be an elected official? You have to be called to this position. I'm not saying that God is going to knock you off your ride with a blinding light on the road to Damascus, but you have to truly have a heart of concern for your cause. Your cause being local, state, or federal you need to pinpoint where you can best serve and make a difference. For me it is hands down on a state level. My personal convictions lye with representing the people of West Tennessee in Nashville and making a change here in our very own state. Making a difference in the state ergo making a difference on a federal level.

You need to get to the heart of your core beliefs. We don't need a carbon copy of an already elected official we need YOU, YOUR ideas, and YOUR beliefs. YOU matter as well as what you have to say. You probably already know what "party" you best fall into but stand firm in those beliefs. There will never be another YOU to voice these opinions. I am no doubt a God fearing Republican.

You need to have the drive to become an elected official, not just the idea of it, but the execution of becoming one. I like the idea of loosing 20 lbs but having the drive to do so is a different story. We each have different personalities and God has gifted each of us in a different way. To be a public leader you have to possess the natural ability of public speaking, leadership, listening/relateing, the ability to make controversial decisions, and live your life knowing your every move is being watched and judged. My wife is the complete opposite of me and does not like an ounce of attention drawn to her. On the other hand I'm one to walk into a room and strike up a conversation with a lamp. I love people, I love being involved, and I love voicing my opinions.

You must qualify according to your state's laws. Lets look at a Tennessee House of Representative position. According to TN state law a candidate must be at least 21 years of age, a US citizen, a citizen of TN for 3 years, a resident in the represented county for at least 1 year, and a qualified registered voter in the legislative district. Sounds good so far moving on....one must obtain a nomination petition from the county election commission office and do so 90 days before the deadline. One must obtain at least 25 local registered voter signatures nominating you as a candidate. From there the one will file their nomination and what party they will run under to their local county district. Seems easy, but lets talk about the biggest set back in my opinion and why people like myself have not made this leap.

Money....Yes this little necessity we all need to survive on. Not money to enter a nomination, this whole process is actually free. In most cases not money to run the campaign. These funds will come from various sources who decide to back you as a candidate. I'm talking about your annual salary. If elected and even during the election your primary job is representing your district. Going back to a TN House Rep they do get a salary for their elected position. A whopping $19,009 a year plus $185 a day per diem per legislative day. Keeping to the notion of your average middle class Joe running for office who would have an average salary of maybe $45,000 a year can not sacrifice a $26,000 pay cut to pursue this cause. Therefore when its all said and done the only people who could really afford this position are those whose jobs allow flexibility. A TN House of Representative will spend at the minimum 90 days in session over a two year period. So that's 45 days a year. What company will allow you 45 days off a year? At the most if you cashed your vacation days you could only use 10 (two weeks) but kiss your family vacations good bye because you've used up those days in session. Now given you get $185 per day per diem. That's an additional $8325 a year plus the $19009 salary you're now earning $27,334 a year. Still a major cut from the average Joe's $45,000 salary. Jobs that do allow you to miss these days are those that are already paying you a nice hefty salary and the money the state gives you to represent them is merely pocket change. These flexible jobs are ones such as Lawyers, Insurance Agents, Small Business Owners, Retired individuals etc. Someone like me who works a 40 hour week and punches the clock can not have this flexibility. There are those rare occasions when ones employer would work with you but most fall under the idea "when done for one it must be done for all."

So this begs the question, how does the average Joe compete? I'd really like to know. How does someone like myself who wants to make a difference and have their voice heard compete against the issue of loss of badly needed income to simply survive on? Am I penalized from this arena because of the profession I have chosen? This particular blog post is being sent to multiple TN House Reps and TN State Senators, because I would love to hear their feedback. The issue of compensating ones current salary to hold a seat in their states representing positions is the biggest set back I have found that keeps average Joe's from running on their party's ticket. This post is now open for discussion so lets hear your feedback!

-Steve
  www.stevechildressmusic.com

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