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Be Polite, Be Firm, Be Respectful
When dealing with other people, that hold office in the same jurisdiction as you, it is important to be respectful. State, county, city, and home owner associations tend to be made up of people you either know, or have some knowledge of. When crafting policies, or creating laws, it is important to be heard while…
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Become Acquainted with the Founding Documents of your Organization
No matte what type of government, or corporate office you find your self in, become acquainted with the founding documents. Sometimes these are in the form of a charter, but they can be incorporation documents, constitutions or some Other vehicle. Home owners associations usually have several documents including bylaws and operating procedures. Get to know…
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Fight The Battles You Can Win
There are things that you feel absolutely passionate about. Very important to you, and in your view everyone needs what you have to offer. In American politics there is a need to enlist your fellow legislative office holders in creating the legislation, or polices you want to have in place. It is ok to disagree,…
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The Year Ahead
The very first thing to do, going into a new year in elected office, is to create a list of agenda items that you want to accomplish by December. Remember that not everything you want to do will be doable. Also keep in mind that you need to fight the battles that you can win.…
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Promises VS. Realitly
When running for public office the candidate often makes wide ranging promises. Sometimes these promises are pie in the sky things, not doable in any since. As time goes on the new office holder, assuming he candidate has won the election, will be confronted with the fact that what they said bares no relationship to…
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Looking Back – Accomplishments
After you have been in office a year it is a good idea to take a backward look at what you have been able to accomplish since taking office. Some ideas will be degraded by others, other ideas will be embraced. The goal of looking back is two fold: Have you been able to do…
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What it means to represent others
After taking office, and for some years afterward, people elected to public office seem to only want to represent their views and interests, an other people that share those views. Representation is a bit more than that. Because when you represent your district, or ward, you by proxy represent people that oppose you as well.…
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Legislation A Thought
Once you have ben elected to a public office, forces beyond your control will begin to pressure you into writing legislation. Legislation remains the ground work for the rules created by various governmental agency’s. Government agency’s will do what ever the legislation allows them to do. If you don’t want one of the agency’s, that…
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What A Budget Really Is
In a few months governments all over the United States of America (USA) will begin their months long budget process. As an elected official you will be asked to pass a budget. If the budget does not line up with with your jurisdictions income, then you can expect that your local news media will point…
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Now That You are in Office
Now that you are in office, or have been for at least a month, you will have noticed something that is rather odd. Common since is in short supply, and common since things are impossible to do. This applies to the private sector as well, epically for corporations. Something that is normally rather simple to…
Down The Sewer Pipe - Politically Speaking 