by
Sarah Barden, Pharm.D., M.B.A.
On Oct. 6, 2015, I woke
up in the wee hours of the day and drove through the foggy morning haze to a stately
brick building in downtown Lansing, the venue for MPA’s Campaign School. If
anyone had told me a year ago that I would be attending a seminar to learn about
running for office and managing a political campaign, I would have scoffed.
“Me? Run for public
office?” The question I asked myself was followed quickly by the answer “No.” A
campaign would be too much work, cost too much money, destroy any semblance of
privacy and take me away from pharmacy. In my mind, running for office was
simply not an option.
By the end of the seminar,
however, I had a much different perspective, and I began to ask myself other
questions such as “Would being a public official really take me away from
pharmacy or might it provide new opportunities to serve my community as an
elected official and as a pharmacist?”
My thoughts continued. “What if I could run? What if I could win? Could I run
in Michigan? Is there really any higher calling than serving your fellow people
by representing them in state government so they have a voice?” As Joe
Palamara, former seven-term State Representative, said, “It was not always the
best job, but it was the best public service I have ever done.” Serving the
public, while challenging and frustrating at times, can be one of best ways to
give back to society. With my education and background, I wouldn’t just be
serving the public; I would be serving pharmacy as well. The Michigan
Legislature has not had a pharmacist serve for some time now. I could be that
voice.
So
what exactly is MPA’s Campaign School and how did it get me thinking about the
unimaginable?
It is a full-day seminar
filled with expert advice from politically-savvy and experienced public
officials designed to encourage and prepare health care professionals to run
for public office. Current and former Senators and Representatives from both
parties drop by to share words of advice and encouragement. Campaign
consultants provide insight into planning, strategizing, budgeting and
fundraising. It is a great way for committed and registered candidates to take
the next steps in getting their campaigns off the ground, and it is a great
place for questioning, and maybe considering, hopefuls (aka me) to learn more
about the process and what it would really take not just to run, but to win.
Some Tips (I Gathered)
for Success
- Deciding to Run. Deciding to run for public office at any level, whether a local commissioner or State Senator, is potentially one of the most life-changing decisions someone can make. It is not something decided on a whim. Campaign School guest speaker Julie Calley, wife of Michigan Lt. Gov. Brian Calley, gave sage advice related to families on the campaign trail and beyond. The entire family, not just the candidate, is affected by the choice to run for office. Everyone needs to be committed to the campaign and the work that comes afterward if you win. The job actually begins once the race is won. The negotiations, time commitments, conflicts and sacrifices are only just beginning during the campaign, but good communication and setting aside time to be with family separate from the campaign are keys to success.
- Setting the Campaign Strategy. Once you decide to run for office and have your family’s support, you then have a myriad of other decisions. Where do you currently live? Is it a red or blue district? Do your political views align with how your district votes? If not, do you need to move to where you have a chance at winning? One important thing I learned is that 90 percent of Michigan’s elected officials are decided during the primary elections. Most districts are so solidly Republican or Democrat that the “real campaign” is against the other people within your own party during the primary to get onto the general election ballot. Once there, the district will vote party lines. One more thing: do not run as an independent if you actually want to win. It does not work, and you will waste a lot of money. You can be a moderate, but you have to decide whether to be a moderate Republican or moderate Democrat. These questions and decisions form part of your campaign strategy.
- Financing the Campaign. Another important thing to consider is that campaigns cost money. A run for state Senate in a highly-contested election could cost half a million dollars. Do you have enough capital to finance it yourself or do you need to raise money for the campaign? If you have to raise the money, who will you ask to donate? How will you ask them? How much will you ask them for (keeping the legal donation limits in mind, of course)? You definitely need to hire an accountant to keep track of the money and open a separate bank account to keep campaign money separate from personal money.
- Executing the Campaign. Next, you have to decide how to manage the campaign effectively. Will you run the campaign yourself or hire a campaign manager? How are you going to research your constituents and your opponents so you can best complete your campaign plan? You must be thoughtful about each and every decision, create a plan and execute that plan. But, as MPA Pharmacy PAC Chairman Hank Fuhs says, you have to be able to “turn on a dime” and adjust your plan as your campaign evolves in order to be successful. Find resources with experience to help you and be nimble and quick to adjust.
Is public office calling
my name? Maybe, just maybe, I hear a tiny whisper. Do you?
P.S. If public office is
calling your name, be sure to join
MPA’s next Campaign School in 2017! Please contact MPA Manager of Advocacy,
Governmental and Regulatory Affairs Amanda Lick at (517) 377-0254 or Amanda@MichiganPharmacists.org with any questions or to get more
information.
