| When trying to decide which political office you | | | | grueling, exhausting effort. President Bill Clinton |
| want to run for, think of your eventual campaign | | | | talked himself hoarse in the last days of his |
| message. You'll want to make sure that you go | | | | campaign in 1992 and had to cut back on |
| for the office you are good at. Some public | | | | speeches in 1996. Poor Bob Dole looked terrible as |
| offices are administrative, where your ability to | | | | election day drew near. |
| handle staff and serve the public is the major | | | | Of course they were out there campaigning |
| criterion. Are you good at paperwork? Can you | | | | every day, but the only real difference between |
| handle subordinates? | | | | their race and yours is that in a local contest, the |
| Others are more legislative, like alderman or | | | | distance between two campaign stops is shorter. |
| councilwoman, where the main function is to listen | | | | You will be working every day too, and it is hard |
| to competing interests and make policy choices. | | | | work to boot. |
| Are you good at listening to people? Can you | | | | When you have asked yourself the difficult |
| make a decision and stick with it? | | | | questions, and found out all you can about the |
| Do you have the time to do what is involved in | | | | duties of the office, and learned about all the |
| the office? Many offices are part time, but with all | | | | official and unofficial qualifications, then ask |
| of the meetings, conferences and consultations | | | | yourself: would I vote for me? If the answer is |
| they are quite demanding. Evaluate yourself and | | | | yes, then you must have some reason why. Get |
| answer important questions about your | | | | those reasons straight in your head. It's the first |
| professional qualifications. | | | | step in your campaign, but you'll get that question |
| You should also think about getting a physical | | | | over and over as you campaign. |
| checkup before you decide to run a political | | | | If you know what you're after, and why you can |
| campaign for office. Campaigning is often a | | | | do the job, then it will come across to the voters. |