Why I Shouldn’t Run for Public Office. Or Why You Should.

Why I Shouldn’t Run for Public Office. Or Why You Should.

by | Jun 24, 2022 | From the Campaign Trail

Here are some of the things that I, Allison Gorman, candidate for TN State House District 26, did last week:

  • Canvassed a long, long street in North Chattanooga with spinach in my teeth.
  • Went to a public event in Hixson and pulled the door handle off the entrance to the building.
  • Accidentally poured the contents of my uncapped water bottle onto the Erlanger table at the One CHA Festival in Miller Park.

Just another week in the life of a professional politician.

Seriously, until someone sat me down a few months ago and asked me to consider it, I’d never even entertained the idea of running for public office—and this is why. I’m a very ordinary person, except way clumsier. (True story: I once broke my left arm and leg falling off a nonmoving bike. But hey, I’m tenacious. I rode the two miles back home.)

I learned to laugh at myself a long time ago. That’s come in handy lately.

Yet the more I talk to people, the more I realize how much they appreciate the opportunity to vote for an ordinary person who’s in it for the right reasons. I hope that seeing me run will encourage them—or you—to run for something too.

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