February meet-up: How and Why to Run for Office
The participants were:
Sara Laird, Adams County Democratic Committee (ACDC), Political Action Committee Chair
Susan Naugle, member Gettysburg Borough Council
Patty Lawson, member Gettysburg Borough Council
Marty Qually, Adams County commissioner
DFA Chair Will Lane moderated the meeting and put a series of questions to the panelists
Q: What got you into this and what are you passionate about?
Laird: Grassroots involvement. Discovered children’s school system had a racist board chair and got involved. Then got involved with ACDC. Can’t stop.
Naugle: As a state employee, covered by the Hatch Act. Frustrated seeing so few women legislators. Main issue initially was the casino; didn’t like how the Council handled it. Ran against incumbent and won. 10th year on council.
Lawson: Was a journalist, covered city government, school boards; then was a spokesperson for the college – in both positions, important not to have public political views. Activism was inspired by 2016 Women’s March. Initially saw myself as a placeholder
Qually:Initially got involved here due to the casino. But there are many issues and it has to be more than the issue that got you there. You have to love your community. Current passion is building local party infrastructure and identifying candidates.
Q: What advice do you have for people who are thinking about running?
Qually: Love where you live. Work beyond “your” issue. Recognize that in this area, your views will represent the minority most of the time; take your issue and combine it with others. “If I can move Adams County a little bit toward the center, I’m moving it to the left.” Be able to take a punch: don’t over-react.
Lawson: “As women of a certain age,” there’s a certain reluctance to step forward. We tend to be perfectionists and often feel like “we’re not well prepared enough.” Borough government is pretty much white male; council and staff need more diversity.
Naugle: It’s more fun that you might think. Knocking on doors is ok once you’ve done a few; you meet nice people. Important to realize that once you’re in, there are things you want to do, but you don’t set the agenda. Take a stand if it’s important.
Laird:School board is not party driven. Must be involved in the community. Everyone should run for something. Need to get young people involved. (I’m often the youngest person in the room.)
Q: Big Issues?
Laird:Education. Our young children don’t always get the best education. If bad people get control, it’s hard to get rid of them. Development is also an issue. Traffic from other townships spills over.
Lawson: Housing is going to be an issue. Rents are astounding. Pushing home rule. Big problem when police chief reports to mayor (who is a part-time, largely ceremonial official), not the city manager. Hoping for a home rule referendum. Other issue: Destination Gettysburg. They get a huge share of the pillow tax and I don’t think we get enough from them. WE host the visitors.
Qually: Hard to narrow down issues. Important for groups such as DFA to focus on local community. Your voice is louder. We can do a lot of things locally. Recycling is an important issue. Glass will no longer be accepted; what can we do locally? Big projects: Mercy House substance abuse center. Real possibility Survivors could close.
Q: Do you have any comments on the situation in Virginia and the standards elected officials should be held to?
Laird:Something positive, perhaps, if an institution can change
Naugle: I agree, honesty right out of the gate
Lawson: As a community, we still have a lot to do in areas like sexual harassment sensitivity training, etc.
Qually: Does you answer tell what kind of person you are? Give people the ability to answer. We should be held to a higher standard.
Q: Why aren’t more young people active?
Laird:Kids, career, and perhaps it never occurs to them that they can have an effect.
Naugle:Busy lives, distrust of politics.
Lawson: Finding issues that engage younger people. Use of focus groups.
Qually: Focus on local issues; communicate by social media. Politics doesn’t appeal to everyone; people who are attracted to power often don’t deserve to be there.
Q: What can we do about wages?
Qually:county has $11 minimum. Hard to raise wages, especially businesses like restaurants where the staff relies on tips. Business development organizations shouldn’t spend abatements and zoning on businesses that won’t pay an adequate wage.
Naugle:Get involved with government. Borough union contract is now $13.
Laird:wage issue is important to Adams County because of our proximity to Maryland. Why work for $7.50 an hour when you can drive to Maryland and start at $10.10?