Should You Run For Local Elected Office?

It's laudable for folks to step up and run for local office. But in today's climate, making that leap means potentially jumping into a political minefield.

I grew up with parents who were pillars of the community, active supporters of those around them, seeing anyone and everyone as neighbors. Without realizing it, their willingness to serve and to lead made an indelible impact on me.

For example, within three months of moving to Southlake, I contacted the city to become involved, and ultimately applied for an appointed position.

Nearly seven years and numerous positions later, I’m glad I stepped up to be involved in our schools and in our community, most notably as a city councilman.

Southlake is a special place, and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.

But being an elected official hasn’t been rainbows and unicorns.

Politics is no longer local

As one of the newbies on the council, I frequently get asked about running for office, especially about campaigning. I enjoyed the campaigning experience, but it’s—as my Dad used to say—more than a notion. Moving from resident to politician is not for the faint of heart.

Most people fail to understand that their friends alone won’t carry them to victory; they’ll need to appeal to people they don’t know and who they might meet once. That’s retail politics.

Today, however, things are quite a bit more complicated.

The current level of political division nationally and locally has made even local politics—where party affiliation isn’t supposed to matter—louder, nastier, and even personally destructive. You have to be prepared for not only vicious political attacks but personal and professional attacks as well, which can threaten livelihoods.

Therefore, anyone planning to run for office has to consider far more than “Should I run?” They must think through how painful it could be if people start harassing their kids at school or their spouse online, in addition to potentially having calls made to their boss or co-workers—all because they disagree with a stance they took, a post they shared on social media or their vote on a controversial topic.

“It’s not worth it—no way,” said a local resident who’s long been active in the community but who now says she would never consider entering local politics, in large part because she couldn’t put her family through the tumult and wouldn’t jeopardize her career. “Maybe in years past I would have considered it, but now, with social media (being so popular) and seeing how folks will attack you, even work to destroy you and your family because they don’t like something you said, there is no way [I’d run for local office].”

What I tell people who are considering a run for local elected office

I meet with anyone who asks and willingly share my thoughts on campaigning, serving as an elected official, and being active in the community. What I never do is offer my opinion on whether or not I think they should run or will win. What’s changed is I do make them aware of the current climate and that they are likely to face significant challenges that in years past wouldn’t have been a concern.

Cancel culture is real and, unfortunately, prevalent.

(Comedian Dave Chappelle righteously mocks cancel culture in the video below, which contains offensive language.)

Making the leap today means you must think of how you, your family, or your career would be impacted were people to dig old up social media posts and share screengrabs online to a broad audience. Could you stomach your words and actions being taken out of context and then used to create a vile screed shared in a private social media group? What’s more, are you prepared to be verbally attacked online and in-person by someone who disagrees not with your decision, but with your politics?

As I am wont to say, “be prepared to get attacked without merit.”

In the end, however, I hope people continue to step up and run for office. The community benefits when good people choose to lead by example.

***If you’re interested in running for Southlake City Council of the Carroll ISD School Board, the filing period begins Jan. 13 for both.***