For some reason, I've had a compelling draw towards public office for the last 10 years or so. Each election season, I seem to get the "itch" to run for something. I could be nuts, or it could be that I'm one of those people who doesn't like to complain about things and not try to do anything about it. For several years, I've sat on the sidelines and been involved in local government through advocacy groups like the Chamber's Government Affairs committee. This has been a tremendous learning experience, but I still feel as if I'm sitting on the sidelines and complaining about what others are doing.
This year is different.
Last week, I filed for a City Council seat in Byron, MN (my hometown). I decided on a small, local position because I'm a results oriented person. There is nothing worse for me than not being able to get things done and make a difference. I felt that a "higher up" position at the county/state level would be full of "politics" and my abilty to make a positive change would be greatly reduced.
So far, it's been a great learning experience in and of itself. I've had the opportunity to meet with people involved in the Byron community and hear about issues that concern them. In a tough economy, I'm hearing about high property taxes, excessive water bills, and a new storm water fee. On the flip side, the existing council members are concerned about the loss of LGA, or Local Governement Aid, from the state.
Hopefully, 11 years of experience as a small business owner will provide some sort of clarity to these budget concerns. When I started Corporate Web Services as a broke college student in 1996, I didn't have LGA, a tax base, or even a business loan... so in my mind things could be much worse.
If you happen to live in Byron, MN, I'd be honored to receive your vote for City Council on November 4th. If you'd like to get involved with the campaign, be sure to visit my new campaign website designed by CWS.