A lot of people want to make a positive difference in the world! That’s great, we support that. But figuring out exactly how you make that difference is a tougher question. We’d like to suggest you consider running for an elected office!
We’re not talking about Congressman or Senator, or the President. Everyone knows about those, obviously, but unless you’re well-connected (and potentially bought off by special interests), those are probably not for you. And, let’s be honest, you have to start small and work your way up for this sort of thing. So, what’s on the table for normal folks just getting started in their political careers?
Here are Five Fast Facts on lesser known elected offices:
- 👀 Commissions Of Things - There are a LOT of local commissions for various things. It depends on the state, but this can include things like public service, public works, insurance, land, you name it. These are often oriented on a specialty of some kind, so if it’s a thing you are interested in it could work out well! Plus, these usually involve multiple people so your odds of getting one of those spots go up!
- 📝 Planners, Inspectors, And Boards - Like commissions, there are a lot of local boards and inspectors. Things like school boards, election boards, or planning and zoning help communities run smoother and could be a great way to get involved where you live.
- 🚂 Texas…Railroads?? - One oddly specific elected office is the Texas Railroad Commissioner. It’s a real office, held by three people at a time, is hugely influential, and it has nothing to do with railroads (it did originally, but not anymore). Since the Great Depression, this commission actually governs Texas’ oil and natural gas industry. In fact, it was the leading voice on global oil prices until the 1970s when OPEC came onto the scene.
- ⚖️☠️ Mines, Justice, And Death - If you’re looking for something off the beaten path, consider Arizona’s Mine Inspector, an elected office that monitors the state’s thousands of underground mines for safety. Many states have a Justice of the Peace (or Clerk of the Peace) that handles weddings and other lower level court proceedings. And, if you’re interested in death, well hey, there’s something for you, too! In many states the Coroner is an elected office!
- 🐐 Animal Reppin’ - This list wouldn’t be complete without mention of those furry members of elected office. That’s right, a surprising number of places elect animals to office! Whether it’s Clay Henry III, the Goat Mayor of Lajitas, Texas, Stubbs the Cat Mayor of Talkeetna, Alaska, or Pigasus, a pig candidate for President of the United States back in 1968, animals have a long history of seeking office. If you’re lucky, maybe you can be Chief of Staff for one of them!
🔥Bottom line: The point is, most of us will never become President or hold national office, but there are lots of elected offices that are accessible to normal folks. And it’s important to have good people in those positions since they do a lot of work for their communities! So, if you’ve got the itch, go ahead and scratch it with a quick Google search for local elected offices in your area. Then see where the road takes you!
What’s the most interesting elected role you’ve ever heard of?
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