The spring elections are rapidly approaching and candidates for local office are lining up.
Are you running?
If not, you may want to consider it. Here are the three reasons we think it’s important for quality candidates to run for school board:
All Politics Are Local
The saying goes, “all politics are local,” and there is no better example of that than at the school board level.
Sure, national and state issues like immigration, budgets and spending, and the latest tweet from a fire-brand politician usually dominate the news, but at the end of the day most voters make decisions based on what they feel directly affects them.
It’s hard to quantify what your taxes get you on a large scale, but when you look at your end-of-year property tax bill, it’s easy to see how your taxes are being spent by the school district.
A candidate for school board has a very significant ability to be a difference maker in how your board operates, and that is an important role when deciding whether your tax dollars are being spent wisely or indiscriminately.
It’s A Stepping Stone To Higher Office
If you have the bug to run and you want to test the waters of politics, there’s no better place to start than at the local level.
If you are elected and serve in a way consistent with the values of your community, you can become an asset to serve in other capacities in your city or county. From the school board, it is not uncommon for elected politicians to go on to be elected to the city or county council, or state senate or assembly.
County and state political parties are always looking to invest in their “bench,” meaning those who serve at a more local level who have proven themselves qualified to serve a higher office. Elected positions are always shifting, so it’s usually just a matter of time before opportunity presents itself. When it does, you need to be ready.
School Board Issues Are Growing In Interest
Last year we saw a lot of news being dedicated to what is being taught in our schools and what the curriculum of a school district ought to be.
All of those decisions are made by the school board. We witnessed parents and stakeholders nationwide pour into school board meetings like never before to raise their concerns about the books and lessons that appear in our classrooms.
If you ever thought that school board decisions are insignificant, you’d be wrong – and as social media connects people to more issues, the debate is certain to become more passionate.
If you are considering making a difference and are interested in a run for your local school board, we have decades of experience in the arena. Reach out to us today for consultation about how we can help you achieve victory!