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Reflections of a Candidate
Lois
K. Herr –Based on a speech to the Elizabethtown Rotary Club, March 2,
2007
How and Why?
Preparing for a recent
Rotary talk, I looked back over my two Congressional Campaigns, and
the years 2003 to 2006. My first question was, “What did I like and
what didn’t I like?” Can you guess what I did not like? Only one
thing – losing. What did I like? Everything else.
When I joined the
Elizabethtown Rotary Club in 2000, no one heard me say a word about
politics, because running for office was not on my agenda. I had just
been appointed to the Lancaster County Planning Commission with the
approval of Republican and Democratic commissioners, and I saw that as
a nonpartisan effort.
However, our lives are
most open to change at transition points, and the turn of 2002 to 2003
was indeed a time of change for me. I sold my farm and moved into a
townhouse with mother in late 2002. I knew that my position at
Elizabethtown College would be eliminated eventually, and in June of
2003, it was.
That is just when the
Primary campaigns for President were heating up. I admired the clear,
specific positions and the approach of Governor Howard Dean and went
on-line with MoveOn, MeetUp, and DeanforAmerica. I volunteered a week
in Manchester, New Hampshire, for the Dean campaign. During that
week, on September 24, 2003, I wrote in my journal, “Feel much
appreciated and welcome. Quite a mix of folks at the office. Very
friendly and hard working. Here again is a great experience, and the
door was wide open. Opportunities seem to arise to meet me whenever I
have an open mind.” And so they did.
I went to the Iowa Caucus
weekend by bus, and then peddled Dean buttons at a State Democratic
Committee meeting (as an outsider, not a delegate, because I was not
really involved in local party activities). At that meeting, our
local Democratic leader chided me, “Why aren’t you running for
office?” It seemed like a good question. At first I said no, because
the inquiry was about running for local or state office, and my
interests were more on national issues. I was asked again, and when I
said no, this time they asked if I would consider running for
Congress.
Clearly, Howard Dean was a
major influence – ideas, empowerment and process. He opened the
process to new people and outsiders. I said yes, and the fun began.
Now I have lived through
two campaigns. From 2004 to 2006, we moved the number from 34% to
39%, almost 40%. We had an independent in each race – the first one
got less than 1%, the second 4%. That means the incumbent dropped
from 66% to barely 57% of the vote. We changed how people see this
District.
Lessons Learned?
First, I gained a better
understanding of other people’s lives. In a variety of situations,
people talked to me about their difficulties – their concerns about
healthcare, education, energy costs, Iraq, and other problems. I
heard from the rich and the poor and a host of people in the middle. I
talked with business owners and union leaders. I ran around with
household names and with people whose names were only known in their
own households. I know now how much people do care about decisions
made by their government, and I know people want leaders who will
listen.
Second, through the
experience of two campaigns, I learned the critical importance of a
good consultant and a good campaign manager. From mid-2005 on to
election night, our team benefited from the expertise and realism of
consultant Walter Ludwig of TeamBlue/Underdog Politics. Throughout
2006, Greg Paulson wisely led the campaign and motivated the team.
Volunteers (and the coordination of volunteers) are also of vital
importance.
Third, fundraising does
not have to be difficult. Once I accepted the advice that asking for
contributions was really asking people to invest in me as a way of
bringing about the changes they would like to see, making calls became
a positive part of my day. Admittedly I was on the phone every spare
minute at home and on the road. Combined with house parties, the
calls enabled us to raise 92% of our $314,000 from individuals.
Moments to remember
As the days went on, I
noted how important it was to talk with people one-on-one. Even
parades can be personal in spite of the crowds – whether from eye
contact or shaking hands along the side – and I participated in many
parades, including Reading, Unionville, Kennett Square, Oxford,
Columbia, Solanco, Adamstown, Ephrata.
At house parties,
individuals seemed eager to get to know me and were not shy about
talking to me about their concerns - how a health care crisis ruined
everything, how getting a place to live was difficult. Campaigning
can be a humbling experience, really, because constituents want to
believe you can help. They can be critical, however, so you need to
have spent time carefully considering many, many issues ahead of time;
a campaign demands clarity and consistency.
Perhaps the most memorable
and enjoyable event for me was the Lancaster Rotary Club debate, which
I thought most clearly pointed out the differences between the
incumbent and me.
Observations from
the final days of the campaign
As election day neared, I
was rarely alone and seldom had any spare time. A candidate certainly
needs high energy for a full schedule. For example, 38 days before
the election, I was on the road early, starting with the Falmouth Goat
Race, where I was one of the judges. From there we went to Chester
County to meet people at the Penn Township picnic – while there I
became closely acquainted with a Burmese Python. Back to Lancaster
County and a stop at the Kinzers Fire Company pig roast en route to a
meeting with the local board of the American Postal Workers Union and
a brief hello to union members attending the AFL-CIO dinner. Then, a
key fundraising event at a supporter’s home in Lancaster City. There
was never a “what am I going to do today” question.
In summary
I encourage others to run
for office – you have a unique opportunity to serve if you get
elected, and even if you lose the election, you win a wonderful
education – awareness of the issues, sensitivity to the needs of
others, clarity of your own ideas. Each Democratic challenge, even in
areas as overwhelmingly Republican as ours, builds the party, develops
staff skills, motivates others to become involved, and forces the
opposition to devote resources and time to campaigning.
Now I see things
differently everywhere - the very real connection of problems we face
to decisions of our elected leaders, whether it is a transportation
system that needs support, companies moving overseas and jobs being
lost (e.g., roses in Christiana), rules for voting – eligibility,
voting machines, the design of precincts and districts. And I am more
than ever aware of how elected officials need to guard against the
easy growth of a big ego. I have experienced first hand the distance
between the in and out crowds, and I see up close both the traps of
power and the need for honest leadership.
If we offer ourselves as
candidates, we have the opportunity to be leaders and the chance to
solve problems. I am grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the
political process.
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