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HEART OF STEELE

Lessons learned from a run for city council
By
Joni Hubred, News Editor
Heart of Steele, Joni  Hubred, city council

Elsewhere in today’s Steele County Times, you’ll find information about running for office in Owatonna and across Steele County.

I’m here to tell you that throwing your hat in the ring – even at the local level – is no easy feat. But the lessons you learn will stay with you a long time.

Over the years, I’ve interviewed scores of candidates for school board, city council, county board, state legislature, and even Congress. When I left journalism for a brief period to work in the marketing biz, one of those folks convinced me that I should run for office.

It seemed like a good idea at the time.

There were three open city council seats and after watching meetings for five years, I was absolutely certain I could handle the job.

Friends supported my candidacy with signatures and donations and words of encouragement. I really enjoyed creating my own campaign literature. The candidate forums were a different story; at that time, I was a very nervous public speaker.

But the most difficult part of campaigning for me was going door-to-door. As a bit of an introvert, I had trouble “cold calling,” so to speak. I am convinced that cost me the election, especially after watching a young friend run for the same office a few years ago.

Instead of relying on events or mailers, she walked every neighborhood, talking to residents or leaving literature when they weren’t home. She finished at the top of the heap, with more votes than three veteran incumbents.

That’s what happens when you humbly and personally ask citizens to trust you with their precious votes.

It’s not the easiest way to campaign for public office. But if you have a heart for your community, if you have a heart for service, it’s the only way.

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