Paul Ralston is a small business entrepreneur from Middlebury. He is a Democrat who served two terms in the Vermont Legislature from 2011-2014. He first ran for the office Justice of the Peace, a race he lost. He is the creator and host of “The Reluctant Politician,” a weekly, one-hour news-radio show which airs on Thursdays at 1 p.m. on Radio Vermont WDEV 96.1 FM.
[I]’m trying to decide if I should run for office, and if so, which office.
Whatever I decide, I will vote in each of the upcoming elections this year. You should vote, too. In order to vote, you have to be registered, and your name has to be on the voter checklist. If you aren’t registered yet, there is still time. You have until 5 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 24 to register to vote at Town Meeting and to vote in the presidential primary.
The best way to register is to visit your town clerk, bring a photo ID, fill out the form, and take the Voter’s Oath. The clerk will see that your name is put on the voter checklist. You can find out all you need to know by visiting the Vermont Secretary of State’s website including the option of registering online.
In Vermont, we have a part-time “citizen legislature,” so it is important that more citizens consider representing their communities in our government.
OK, you’re registered to vote. Have you ever thought about running for office yourself? Maybe you have run before; maybe this would be your first time. The deadline to run in local elections has passed, but you can still run for a statewide office or for the Vermont Legislature. You may think the field of candidates for office in 2016 has already been set. It hasn’t. Actually, around now is the traditional time to announce a run for office. There is still plenty of time left for candidates to make their decision to run, collect signatures on a petition and file that petition with the appropriate authority. We have until Thursday, May 26, to make up our minds and get our paperwork submitted. The primary doesn’t happen until Aug. 9 and the general election is a full nine months away on Nov. 8.
Serving as an elected official in Vermont is an important undertaking. Whether you serve at the local, county or state level, Vermont is small, and one person can make a difference. We have seen that recently in the Legislature. Public service can be a rewarding experience, and yes, it can be challenging as well.
The success of our democracy depends on an active citizenry. In Vermont, we have a part-time “citizen legislature,” so it is important that more citizens consider representing their communities in our government. A seat in the Vermont House or Senate should not be a job for life. We don’t have term limits, and while institutional knowledge is an advantage of tenure, I think there are greater benefits in new ideas and new approaches that come with new people.
If you are happy with how things are going in our state, then fine, you can let it be. But if you are concerned with the trajectory of our government or you are disappointed that promises have been left unfulfilled, maybe it’s time for you to take a shot at running.
You’ve heard it before: “The decisions are made by those who show up.” Think about running. I am.
