Last spring I jokingly told a trustee that if she didn't run, I'd run in her place to keep a committee I am on happy and in effect switch roles with her (her being the citizen, me being the Trustee on the board for the Village of Brooklyn).
Since 2011 I have been on a community events planning committee and have volunteered countless hours and graphic design to see this committee grow and strengthen our offerings to our local community. Eighteen months later I started seeing the positive changes that I was expecting by the twenty-forth month of being on it.
In the spring of 2014 our Trustee had mentioned that she was considering not running in 2015. Jokingly I said I would take her spot if she choose not to. But truthfully, I may have said it jokingly, but deep down the seed was already planted for a potential run. I had become heavily invested in my community and started promoting small towns across Wisconsin with a new eMag so it seemed fitting that subconsciously I was already gearing up for this, not only working on the eMag but working closely with the Economic Development Committee (which i formally joined in November)
In October our Trustee came up to me and said "Well, you still considering running?" I told her I needed to think about it and I would get back to her. The reason I had to think about it is that I am not a political person in general, just ask my husband (wmspringer) who by the way IS! Going through the pros and cons, one night I got a phone call from another resident who asked if I would run for President.
My awesome political banner!
It was becoming clear, that some felt
I was important and that if they trusted me to be
President, perhaps, this is a path I need to consider leaning towards, rather than away. Personally I knew I would not run for President as I did not feel comfortable going from a committee member to
BAM! President but a
Trustee, I could see pulling off. By December, I knew I would run as a fellow Trustee. It's exciting, yet nerve-wreaking to figure out how to inform the public of what I stand for, simply cause I do not speak "political jargon" but then that's what I have my husband for.
I would like to say best of luck to all the candidates running!
I still have not learned very well to "Never Say Never" ;)