As part of the discussion of my most recent letter to the editor of our local paper, a friend asked if I had considered running for office. At one time, when I was younger, not long after we first moved here, I did...but decided against it for two reasons:
1. I was a brand-new resident with only a passing knowledge of local issues (and only one, the new high school, in which I had a passionate interest);
2. I would be a Democrat in what was then an overwhelmingly Republican community, with about as much chance to win an election as I would have to win a marathon (in fact, my odds in the marathon might have been better).
Today, I know more about the community (after living here for 20 years), I am better known in the community (thanks to those letters in part), the community is more evenly split politically (although the township and school board governments are still 100% Republican), but I am still reluctant. Mostly, I think I'm too old now. If the Democrats are going to crack the GOP hold on the township (as they did the county government last year), they will want and need young people to run, so that they can hold office for a long time and maybe even form a base for higher office. I'm almost 70; IMO, too old to begin a political career.
So, my political activities will be limited to supporting candidates I believe in and writing scathing letters to the paper.
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