Thinking about running for political office

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I have been giving it some thought about running for a city council seat that is opening up this year in my community. I have been very active politcally and socially for a number of years now. While, I have respect of a number of people in the political spectrum, I am scared as to how people in the community would respond to the fact that I have AS.

I have been extremely active in our community since it was hit by a devistating flood that is considered to be the 5th worst natual disaster in monetary costs in US history.

My experence is listed below:
*A member of the local Democratic Central Committee since 2004, I also ran the arrangements of the local Democratic Convention in 2000. I ran my Democratic precinct caucus in 2006, 2008 and 2010.
*Assisted with bringing a bedroom community of the city that I live that was also impacted by the flood. A childhood friend was the mayor out there. I helped him connect with local organizations that provided aid and assistance to him community, connect with other communities that had been through flood disasters, helped him connect with our state Universties and other colleges to offer advice, expertise and give students hands on expereince in this matter, and lastly helped him with research and leg work in policy and procedure for his community.
*I am on a committee that deals with helping those out that were impacted by the flood, and preparing for the next disaster, and a committee that deals with upstream mitigation, storm water runoff and other environmental factors that lead to flooding.
*I have also volunteered on a frequent basis on flood related and other community social service projects, along with writing frequent editorials to the paper about issues in our community. One of these editorials did a lot to bring light the issues that our local public library was facing after the flood, and that we as a community needed to support it if we wanted to keep it open. The editorial received responses from around the United States and from a few people of importance.

There are probably a few other things that I have done. The flood and the community's response has been my special interests. Has anyone on this forum ever held public office? Any thoughts or opinions?

Go for it. Even if you lose, the experience will teach you SO much about human nature. I tried journalism for a bit, and had a great experience trying to meet people.

If I lived in that state I would consider voting for you, but I would have to know whom is running against you first.

Go for it man. This is my ambition also but personally i dont think i can manage the stresses and strains of it. You sound like you're way better socialised than me so go for it.

I think politics is crazy because people get so angry and do not talk things through or least the nuts.

I say do it, this is something I've considered doing down the road, though I feel I like to be a behind the scenes player, as a strategist or advisor for candiates.

I like the idea of figuring out politics and making it publicly available and minimizing misunderstanding. Politics seem to be based on division. The more agreement the less need for conflict. Politics of devision seem to be enjoyed.