Running for school board with Angela Becker
I have always wanted to run for local office, but I pictured it being later in life. That changed after the 2016 election. I realized now more than ever we need a diverse representation at all levels of government and the only way to achieve that was for more diverse people to run for office. I decided to run for Board of Education because I believe public education is the bedrock of our democracy — I want to protect and improve it.
I really enjoyed knocking on doors and talking to voters. I’m an introvert and was nervous about this in the beginning. Knocking on doors allowed me to explore new neighborhoods, meet people who think differently than me and have substantial conversations about public education. I had fun doing it. Running for office forces you to connect with people, something my generation enjoys doing online but struggles with in real life.
I was surprised by the political polarization that exists even at the local level. Kansas is very red but school board races are nonpartisan. I assumed voters would be more interested in my qualifications than party affiliation; that was not always the case. Voters often asked if I was a Republican, others would ask how I felt about abortion as a proxy for party affiliation. I know I lost votes because I was honest when asked. This is something progressives need to overcome.
My advice to first-time candidates is to ask for help! People want to help you succeed, but you have to ask them. Often when I asked someone for help I’d hear, “I was waiting for you to ask me” in response. Run For Something helped me by connecting me campaign experts. I had help with messaging, design, advertising, and canvassing strategies — all at no cost to me. This is another example of people wanting to help you. Campaigning is difficult and you worry about every decision. Having people with experience just a call or email away was invaluable.
