How many DUer's have run for office?

[Recursion]

Any elective public office.

Back when I worked for a congressman he said the biggest problem with goverent was that way too few people ran.

4 votes, 0 passes | Time left: Unlimited
	I have run for office and won
	2 (50%)
	I have run for office and never won
	1 (25%)
	I have never run for office
	1 (25%)
	0 DU members did not wish to select any of the options provided.
Show usernames Disclaimer: This is an Internet poll

[Marrah_G]

1. Unfortunately the need for a perfectly squeeky clean past gets in the way

I think alot of folks either can't afford it or they are afraid of people digging into every corner of their past....or both.

[Recursion]

2. Darrell Issa is a car thief

I think that's overstated

[Chathamization]

3. Many local positions often don't need either

much (or any) money or a perfect past to win. There are plenty of positions that don't get much attention but are still important, just as their are many ways to be active in politics other than running. In order to move forward we need to deal with our learned helplessness.

[Marrah_G]

8. Right, but people mostly see the nasty national races

So they get to thinking that all races are like that. Just my opinion of course. Frankly I would like to see more flawed but brilliant people in our leadership instead of those who have spent a lifetime creating a facade of who they are over an empty shell.

[Chathamization]

11. True, which is why running teaches you a lot

I've found running for local office or getting involved in local politics in other capacities to be very informative. For example, one thing I've learned is that it seems like the influence of money tends to be overstated. Large amounts of people (good or bad) can often trump money, but the reason money seems to have such an overbearing effect is because there usually aren't a lot of people on the other side pushing against it. From what I've seen, if we could get even 1% of this country organized and active in pressing for progressive causes, we could transform things.

[Marrah_G]

12. Here in Mass there is a RW radio guy (Michael Graham)

He has been organizing workshops on how to run for local office. He says they are for any party, but he is clearly a teabagger of the worst sort and his audience represents that.

It would be good to see the Democratic party start something similar all over the country.

[Chathamization]

13. There are a few groups on the left that do trainings

I haven't attended any though, so I can't comment on how good they are. Local groups are pretty good about, if not training, encouraging people to run and giving them a hand. It would be nice if there was a bit more online space devoted to sharing information and encouraging people to run. I'm sure there's a lot of knowledge out there that we could benefit from.

[tabbycat31]

16. I've been to several of those trainings

I have never run for office myself, but I am a professional campaigner and those trainings I see as professional development.

At one point I was thinking about running for state assembly. Then I was redistricted into one of the most Republican districts in the state (R+30) and I won't be a sacrificial lamb. Besides I'm much more of a behind the scenes person and I am on the road too much to actually govern.

[zbdent]

4. I've run FROM my office ...

to my car at the end of the work day ...

[Recursion]

5. (I admit, I just want Alan Grayson to answer my poll...)

[femmocrat]

6. Not exactly an office, but...

I ran for delegate to the DNC. My candidate withdrew before the primary, so I didn't even get my name on the ballot. It was exciting while it lasted though. I would do it again except that running has become way too expensive.

[Kaleva]

7. I have waaaay too many skeletons in my closet to run for office.

[seabeyond]

9. i inhaled. nt

[HappyMe]

10. lol!

As did I. Still do on occasion.

[slackmaster]

14. I've managed a campaign, and lost with pride, honor, and dignity

[hfojvt]

15. Does being a precinct person count?

You are on the ballot and do get a certificate, but usually you run unopposed.

But that is not why I answered yes, although I have been elected precinct man 3 times now.

But I also ran for the waterboard and won, ran for Congress and lost in the primary and ran for County Treasurer and got slaughtered in the general.

[lumberjack_jeff]

17. My record is 3-2

The last loss was against a good friend for a school board position, so I kind of feel he drew the short straw.