Back to work
As we’ve passed the middle point of summer and have mostly recovered from the campaigning of the spring my thoughts have turned to the November elections, my future plans, and my family.
My family gave up a lot for me to run my campaign. They adjusted schedules, filled in on commitments, gave up certain savings, and always cheered me on. If I didn’t have their real support I would never have been able to keep it going. I also learned that my family grew as the campaign grew. I have people here in Riverside, Moreno Valley, Corona, Coachella, Temecula, Perris, and Murrieta who have counseled me, taken on assignments for me, and kept me real through out the campaign. I can never thank all of you enough and I know I’ll never be able to fully repay you. At this time it is my responsibility to give back to my family, to be there when they need me, and to cheer them on as they push through their challenges.
I haven’t given up my plans though. I want to remain involved and available to other candidates and campaigns. I have accepted a position on the National Women’s Political Caucus (NWPC) as Vice President — Political Action Committee. It will be my job to insure that all female candidates within the Inland Empire receive the necessary paperwork and encouragement to seek the NWPC endorsement and then to make sure that they are supported with training and as much other assistance as can equitably be managed. In the future I may run for another elected office but that’s not going to happen right now.
I learned a lot from the campaign. I learned that to be really effective you have to be seeking the office you campaign for for at least a year before the election date. I learned that endorsements and base support (including funding) are vital to carrying on a successful campaign. Finally, I learned that running for office can fill one with an oversized idea of their own self importance. It is easy to lose track of the particular talents you have and begin to think that you could be anything. It is important that people of integrity run for office but also they should be people of appropriate knowledge and experience, people whose life experiences have naturally brought them to the place where they can best serve their fellow citizens by being in this particular office. It is too often that people are in the office for the prestige and the name without true regard for the responsibilities. When you vote in November look for the experience, the knowledge, and the service dedication — not the glory seeker.