RECENT COMMENTS
First in, first out
A month or so after announcing my candidacy for the City Council 7th District seat come this fall, I am rescinding that statement.
In the 5 weeks that I’ve been publicly a candidate, I’ve gotten enough into the mindspace of “being a candidate” to realize that it is not for me. It has become clear to me the difference between the civic and the political, and which of the two engages my interest.
Initially reluctant to run because of the time committment necessary to campaign, I have been going back and forth on my ability to commit to a campaign. After a few weeks of behind-the-scenes campaigning and with things about to really get going, I have come to realize that I do not have the time or desire to commit myself to the process of getting myself elected. While I do still think that I would do well at and sincerely enjoy representing the East End, I don’t have whatever it takes to exploit what might make me electable and nor do I want to tarnish what has brought me to most folks’ attention.
I want to thank everyone that offered their support. I am left kind of speechless by how many people immediately offered their confidence and to help the campaign. I keep thinking, though, that my best public contribution to the greater Church Hill area and the East End can be by continuing working to connect folks across the area through the sharing of information and by providing CHPN as the fairly neutral space that is has been.
A special thanks to those of you that met with me over the last few weeks to offer your input and advice. I also offer a heartfelt special thank you to those of you that offered financial support from the very beginning. I will, of course, have to decline your contribution and all checks are on their way back to you.
Stay involved.
John, I understand exactly your decision. You know now better than most that politics isn’t what most of us think of it as. Not only does it absorb an incredible amount of time, but it’s a huge drain on your mental energy, removing you in thought even though you may be with family or other activities.
What you learn too is that there is no glory, only hard work and criticism. The novelty of having your name in the paper quickly wears off.
That’s why we must consider closely who is our next councilperson, and ensure that the person is grounded and running for the right reasons.
I’m sure you’ll continue to be effectively involved in whatever way choose. Thanks for the effort you put in to making sure more voices are heard.
I also understand where you are coming from John. Being pulled in many directions while trying to keep the peace and make right decisions for the good of all isn’t easy!
I think a misquoted Lincoln quip that is often used applies here: “You can please some of the people all of the time and all of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time.”
And possibly the correct use of it (considering the city officials):
” You can fool some of the people all the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all the time. ”
Eric
John, I hear you. However, this initial appointment is not a campaign. The only people you will be campaigning to are members of the Richmond City Council. And all that will consist of is submitting your application (by Jan. 22) expressing your interest in the position and an interview with the Council. The real campaign after that would consist of your fellow citizens expressing their support of you to the Council.
You are the exact kind of person who needs to be on the Council. As a former candidate myself, who is also reluctant to run– there is a dire need for good citizens to seek office. It’s actually a good thing that you are reluctant to run, it means you realize the weight of the duty and you aren’t a power-hungry freak.
You have much to contribute to your district’s representation. You’ve been representing it for years already. You could still blog and as a Council person you would have access to information that the public doesn’t have but needs. As valuable as CHPN is, you could help your district and Richmond even more inestimably by your participation on the Council. If you do not seek this appointment now, I strongly encourage you to run for the seat in November. You only need 125 signatures of registered voters from your district to get on the ballot. You don’t even have to campaign, just show up to the public events you are invited to. And let the voters do the rest.
However, I realize you may have your reasons for not running. Whatever you decide, you will have my whole hearted support and appreciation for your civic service to our city.
Silver makes good points…John start with submitting an application for the appointment. Why not?
Listen to Silver!
John,
I respect your decision but will add that all of the reasons you site for not running are EXACTLY what make you the right person to run:)
I’d vote for you.
John,
Kimmy nailed it! Or as Quakers say, she speaks my mind. You are a great citizen and I look forward to supporting you in all the many ways you will continue to serve our city. Many thanks for all that you do!
Not that you asked for it, but I think you will be a happier person for the decision you made. I never saw how you could blend the many roles you were taking on and I couldn’t envision you as a politician.
That being said I admire the work you do and the dedication you bring to it. There’s many ways to participate in democracy and being a politician only one of them. There are some few I admire, Jimmy Carter and Harry Truman nationally and Mayor Rudy and Bill Pantele locally. I don’t care how stupid that sounds. Each in his own way impressed and influenced me.
Buenos Suertes and Happy Trails, to you and all of the rest of the fellow travelers.
ditto again. I’d vote for you also. I also agree that reasons you cite are reasons that make you the right person. Especially being astute on picking up on the difference between civil vs the political animal. Again though I respect your decision, maybe consider the appointment seat.
The way I read it is not a matter of John’s qualifications or interests but possibly his beliefs may be a bit bias in certain areas where he feels a more balanced person needs to be in place?
Eric
RE post 11 – sounds to me like John is making a lifestyle choice for himself and his family, not backing out because he feels un/under-qualified. I think he has been pretty clear, and I don’t think it’s neccessary to read between the lines when someone makes a direct statement about where they are coming from, and why.
Just my 2.
Shannon,
He is also thinking of family and time restraints but his opening statement is what I am going by:
“It has become clear to me the difference between the civic and the political, and which of the two engages my interest.
”
Eric
Re: post #11-
“The way I read it..” Perhaps more time on reading comprehension would help. Murden couldn’t have been more clear.
@Eric – When I wrote “It has become clear to me the difference between the civic and the political, and which of the two engages my interest”, I simply meant that while I really enjoy being engaged in the grassroots civic aspects of the East End, there are many aspects to running for public office that have nothing to do with this or are actually counter to this.
Balance or bias has nothing to do with my decision.
dagnabbit! i were pulln’ fur ya!
(though i certainly respect your decision)
From what I can see watching another member of Council, it takes 20-30 hours a week in official time, plus the outreach time of district meetings, constituent services, civic associations, etc. Remember that a council member is not just signing on for two eight-hour meetings a month. There will be at least two committee meetings, plus the regional bodies on which you agree to serve. And if one of your meetings is chaired by Mrs. Robertson, count on doubling the time involved.
Local electoral campaigns require so much time, energy, and money, not to mention a thirst for power, and few if any political principles. This may be cynical, but the 7th district is not the place for an idealistic campaign. McQuinn’s machine is too firmly in place to do anything other than transfer authority to a new figure-head. Let’s be honest, Murden’s web work is laudable, but his reputation does not reach far enough into McQuinn’s base to fracture it in the slightest. Good job, John, being realistic. The appointment might have been more feasible. (see Kinney’s comment on that topic in a previous post)
“it takes 20-30 hours a week in official time”
(Former) Mayor Wilder once compared his full time job to a council member’s bimonthly part time work. My observations are otherwise. Friends, acquaintences and constituents consider you on duty 24/7 and expect you to listen and take a personal interest in their complaints/concerns at the drop of a hat. And when you can’t, don’t or won’t respond favoribly or fast enough, there can be hell to pay. Then there’s opening up your private life to public scrutiny, the infighting and backbiting. Fun stuff and $25,000 for your trouble.
“And when you can’t, don’t or won’t respond favoribly or fast enough, there can be hell to pay.”
I don’t know about that from my experience. I have found that people hold onto seats for many years without ever responding. I’ve never once have gotten a reponse to any of my calls, letters, or emails from our district representative. Only in the past year, coming up on election, did I recieve a phone call in response to my concern re the closing of Bellevue and it was from the office help, not my representative.
Interesting. People in my district get a response the same day. Yes it is from the liaison, but since we want to know when, where, how to access service, I don’t care who gives it to me. When people say they need to talk to the councilman, they get a call returned, usually within 24 hours. But look at the council members. Tyler employed full time, Samuels full time job, Hilbert full time job with travel, Conner, businessman with full time job. Most the liaisons are educated, some with professional training, and do far more than clerical work. And since when has office work been a perjorative?