The Universal Guide to Running for Office

Park Cannon, Elizabeth Clyde

• Publisher: Clyde Publishers LLC
• Year: 2021
• Edition: 1
• eBook ISBN:
  9781087978567
• Topic: Politics & International Relations
• Subtopic: Political Biographies
• Index: Politics & International Relations

chapter 1

What does it take?

“You don’t make progress by standing on the sidelines, whimpering, and complaining.

You make progress by implementing ideas.”

~Shirley Chisholm~

 

If you have bought this book, it means you are either considering running for office or are already doing so.

Make this your decision and something that you have made up your mind to do.

Start by owning the belief that you are qualified to run for office and that you are committed to this being your own decision.

It will be imperative that you return to the reasons supporting your decision to run for office, and for me it was:

1. My family supported me.

2. My community asked me.

 

January 11, 2021

6:30 AM

Ms. Park Cannon

 

Call me she and her. Which pronouns do you use?

 

I am writing this to you after returning from a brisk walk with my Yorkie pup, Congress.

It is a great morning in Georgia because today is the first day of the legislative session!

It is a sincere honor to serve in my elected position.

Many of the voters who support me have watched me and prayed for me to win each of my elections.

I do not take for granted my leadership role and I have been serving the Old Fourth Ward community and surrounding areas of the Georgia House of Representatives’ District 58 since I was twenty-four.

I was attracted to my seat after a fire was lit inside of me upon hearing the verdict of

Michael Brown’s case.

With a burning desire to bring change to not just The South, but throughout the world, I sat on the steps of the Georgia State Capitol and made a promise to myself.

I told myself that I would make plans to join the political process as a decision maker, thought leader, and ultimately a world changer.

I did not exactly know where to begin, but the flame for change was ignited.

I simply started by serving local organizations in my community.

Then one day, as if God were saying I was ready, the graceful Simone Bell called me about vacating her seat.

With a true desire to present my campaign entitled:

 

Better Solutions

for a Better Georgia

I could not think of a better mentor to be supported by than Simone Bell.

#MentorsMatter

I remain grateful to her and all the voters in Georgia that believe in progress for all…

And I cannot deny the forward force of such a powerful decision to be the change I wished to see.

I am here to guide you in the best way possible to succeed in politics, but also in your own personal life.

I am no different from you: a girl with parents who love her, a brother she admires, and friends that are my own personal heroes, and still I took the political plunge.

Make no mistake, after deciding to run, it was not easy.

I went into four back-to-back elections with contenders.

The 2020 election was the first time I was on the ballot without an opponent.

Having successfully won all four of my elections before I turned 30, I have recognized the depth of my knowledge based on the leadership courses I have completed (Hey, Harvard Kennedy School!), the trainings that I have led (VoteRunLead!) and the multiple positions that I have secured such as

Chair, Co-Chair, and Secretary to name a few.

I want you to join me in bringing change to your community, city, state, and ultimately the world.

If I could begin this book with one single motivation for you, it is to: prove them wrong.

I do not know who your “them” is, but they are not what is most important.

If you now have a desire to speak for anyone in a position of need then now is your time.

Many of us know what it is like for our voices or stories not to be heard. It is time for yours and this is likely why you are reading this book.

Do yourself a favor, and do not run from the call of liberty, we must keep the torch burning.

It is time to get busy!

Let’s start by identifying why you want to run for office.

The journey is empowering, yet also isolating due to the nature of the political arena.

We must be clear on our why and always come back to revisit our purpose when we feel overwhelmed.

My why was to address community pain and bring better healthcare access.

 

Q&A to Ponder with Park!

1. Are you able to maintain integrity under pressure?

_________________________

2. Do you recognize yourself as a change agent in your community?

__________________________

3. The bright lights are hot, can you handle being misunderstood?

__________________________

4. Are you able to present ideas of others even when you do not necessarily agree with their perspective?

___________________________

5. Do you believe that political parties should be able to work together for the greater good of all despite different beliefs?

______________________________

Running for office ultimately takes being a voice for others, while also taking on the responsibility of remaining composed even when under attack.

 

What is your why?

__________________________________________________________________________________________

 

You have what it takes.

 

Now, let us start adding people to your team!

 

#TeamWorkMakesTheDreamWork

Chapter 2

Kitchen Cabinet

“Effective leaders m...

Table of contents

• Dedication
• Foreword
• Park’s Political Playlist
• chapter 1
• Better Solutions
• Q&A to Ponder with Park!
• Chapter 2
• Your Kitchen Cabinet
• chapter 3
• CHAPTER 4
• Organization is the KEY to Justice
• CHAPTER 5
• CHAPTER 6
• Learn to L.A.P.
• cHAPTER 7
• CHAPTER 8
• Campaign Signs
• CHAPTER 9
• Call Time!
• CHAPTER 10
• CHAPTER 11
• ~Brenda D~
• ~Shekesa M~
• ~Nathaniel G.~
• CHAPTER 12
• Instructions for
• 120 Days Affirmation