What Happens When You Decide to Run for Office?

When I was at the 3rd District Democratic Convention I met the Johnson County, Kansas Chair of the Democratic Party. His name is Bill Roy, Jr.

He suggested that I might make a good candidate for state office, but I took that as him just being polite. After all, I was there trying to get elected to go the National Convention in Denver and so was every other person there, including him. Everyone was talking each other up, looking for votes. He actually won, though, and deservedly, too.

A County Chair’s job is to find qualified candidates for state office. Bill called me a few days later about just that. I was qualified, he said, and from what he saw I’d make a great candidate.

I thought I’d have to clear my issues and positions with the party. I was wrong. “You run based on what you and the people in your district believe in,” he said.

The party does ask some things, though, mostly about my background and if I can actually do the job. Then Bill explained how to file for office and strongly encouraged that I file by petition. “That gets your feet wet in going door to door meeting voters,” he said, “and more importantly, it lets you find out what issues are important in your community.”

I thanked him and got my petition forms. I need 51 signatures to file, according to state law, but the party wants me to get at least three times that number: 153. I have about five weeks to do it before the deadline.