It’s time to learn a new skill: campaigning. The first time I ran for school board, I was unopposed. This time there are three candidates for two seats. I need to learn how to promote myself. I need to learn to campaign.

Last week, someone I know locally who is very savvy about such things is sat me down and taught me what she thinks I need to know. Now I have the knowledge base. The skill base is harder to acquire. It’s all in the doing–and the doing plays to my mild phone phobia and my hesitation to ask, “Do you like me? Do you really like me? Do you like me enough to help?”

The candidates’ forum held by the PTO is doable. Yard signs and campaign literature are easy. They require some design ability and money. This election is still a low-budget election. This year school board will be a more expensive hobby than usual but it will be affordable. The real difficulties lie elsewhere.

Why do I have the feeling that real campaigning may be a life-altering experience. I’ve never been particularly good at promoting myself. I can talk about the issues. I can advocate for openness–even while recognizing the limits of openness as I never did before I became a politician. How do you explain that, in the abstract, a particular budget cut makes sense but from a staffing standpoint it would be a disaster? You can’t without undercutting your teachers.

Some days, I’m not even sure why I want the job. How on earth will I explain to others why they should give it to me? I know why they should give it to me. The best reason is exactly the reason that makes the job so painful. I will listen and then I won’t turn away from hard decisions because they are unpopular or uncomfortable. I will seek out information and I will think about what is said. I will evaluate whether it makes sense in terms of other information I have and then I will make a decision. The decision, like many decisions, may not be the best decision (although in general I believe my judgment is relatively sound.) It may not be the only possible decision.

But it will be the fairest decision that I know how to make. It will not weigh my own child’s needs more. I am Day-Hay’s mother but, as a school board member, I am a steward for all of the children. It will not weigh particular parties’ needs more just because of who they are (although, if I’m honest, I am more influenced by some opinions than other based upon my view of the people who hold the opinions.) It will be what I believe to be the best solution possible. I’m nothing if not pragmatic.

So, I might as well practice here. Do I have your support? Will you take a yard sign if I need it? Will you distribute literature? And, most of all, unlike most of the people I talk to, will you take the time to vote?

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