How it all began…
A couple years back I was on the tractor and had the idea I could run for office, maybe even something like Judge/Executive. So like with most of my ideas, it stewed in my melon for a while and so I did some digging and bounced the idea of my old lady (she’s 12 years younger than me, it's our joke). Her response, like usual, was, “Whatever, I just can keep up with you”. Then I asked a buddy who is in public office and he told me I should start with something like magistrate. I said, “Why? If I have to campaign for something then it might as well be where I make the most impact.” Well, after that I kinda tucked it away in my mind and thought of other ideas, mainly farm stuff.
Then I watched how the race for the position was shaping up this year and, honestly, I was hoping another option would pop up, apparently in vain. When I saw it was gonna be decided in another damn primary and that I didn’t get to vote on the position, well, it pissed me off. So again I stewed for a few weeks and then..BAM! On the latter part of the evening of Sunday February 22, I made one of my more interesting decisions, “I can run, hell I could maybe even win.”
Alright, well off I go. I sit down with the wife and have a real come-to-Jesus type talk about what this all really means going forward. She supportively said, “Ok” with a hint of hesitancy. She’s the best ever. Monday I meet with in-the-know buddies and I give them the news and they don’t think it’s a crazy idea. They say “Ok”. Wednesday, another pal, another “Ok”. Thursday, my older boys, my parents, “Ok”,”Ok”. Friday, well, now it is officially on.
Out comes the notepads and pens. The idea takes shape, more ideas flow, it all lays out before me. Now all I have to do is figure out the how to do any of it; campaign, politicking, fundraising, speak with that many people, or worse, how to speak in front of a crowd, brrr. You see, I know I can do the jobs of Judge/Executive. That’s the easy part, well the easier part for me. It’s getting the job in the first place, that is the challenge.
Out comes the laptop. The research begins. I digest everything I can. Late nights (I still have a life with a wife and kids) reading and typing, maybe a bourbon or two. The idea has become the start of a plan. I prep the necessary documents, make the important lists, crunch some numbers, hit the phone and start meeting with the people needed to make this happen.
This thing is out of the womb and already starting to get its legs.
So begins the start of my crazy year of trying to get a job. A job most people don’t want. Haha.
