Get on the Ballot Spring 2020

(From left) State representative Amanda Stuck, Door County Sheriff Tammy Sternard, Gibraltar School Board member Angela Sherman and former Sturgeon Bay alder Barbara Allmann shared advice about running for office during an Oct. 22 panel discussion in Sturgeon Bay. Photo by Celeste Benzschawel.

Door Collectivist hosts discussion to teach, empower potential candidates

If not now, when? If not you, who?

Those are the questions panelist Angela Sherman asked during Door Collectivist’s second annual Get on the Ballot panel discussion Oct. 22.

Running for public office can be a daunting experience, especially without prior experience. Door Collectivist aims to dismantle fears about running for office and to encourage and empower new voices to take a seat at the table when 60 seats on Door County boards will be up for grabs in the spring of 2020. 

Three other current and former office holders joined Sherman to share their advice about running for and serving in office.

Rep. Amanda Stuck shared her experiences representing the 57th Assembly District of the Fox Cities; as a founder and co-chair of Wisconsin’s Future Caucus, a bipartisan group of young legislators; and as someone who is now running for Wisconsin’s 8th Congressional district.

Door County Sheriff Tammy Sternard talked about how her 26 years in the Sheriff’s Office allowed her to learn from her mentors, move up the ranks and develop her own leadership style.

Angela Sherman shared how she ran for office after realizing she was able to contribute an outside perspective. She was able to found and chair the policy committee as a school board member for Gibraltar Schools. She’s now in the second year of her first three-year term.

Barbara Allmann is a former alder for the City of Sturgeon Bay. She didn’t know a lot about being a council member when she was elected, but said she became successful by creating a support group, listening to her mentors and forming relationships with community members.

Though each panelist came from different offices, their shared experiences left audience members with some stand-out pieces of advice.

Take Multiple Views to the Table

In enacting a bill, new policy, change or deciding how to vote, it’s important to gather research and information from all sides of an issue, and seek out people who have opposing views. For nonpartisan seats, political parties shouldn’t impact the decisions being made: It’s about setting aside ideology and working together to make something happen.

When Sternard ran for sheriff the second time, she ran against her current chief deputy. People were surprised when she kept him in his position, but she knew that even though they had different views, he had just as much experience. Their arrangement works well, she said. They support each other’s initiatives and work together to create new ones.

Do the Groundwork, and Be Vocal

Gathering research and working on campaigns means combing through letters from constituents, reaching out to them personally, meeting with other officials and going to every meeting that you can.

“Be ready and prepared to go door to door,” Allmann said. “Go back if no one is home.”

A part of that is making your voice heard as a candidate. Sherman said candidates should attend every meeting they can. When an opportunity for open discussion arises, say something positive. Even if it seems like a small comment, it puts your name in the minutes. People start to recognize who you are, and, surprisingly, people actually read the minutes, she said.

Allmann got into the practice of calling people and inviting them to meetings. She said she wanted to hear what people had to say and wanted them to contribute to discussions.

Stand by Your Message

Staying true to your message is also important. Even if you don’t succeed in your first run for office, the community may remember in the future what you stood for as a candidate. 

Sternard lost her first campaign for sheriff, but people remembered her goal to work with the youth of the county. One of her first projects was to place school resource officers in each school. 

“If you have a message, and it’s important, and you feel you can do something that’s going to be a positive thing in the community and try to effect some change, go for it,” Sternard said. “You win some and lose some, but the experience itself will make you a better person.”   

Build a Support Team

Surround yourself with people who are behind your message and want to help you. Campaigning can be a long, hard process, and having people to motivate you and push you goes a long way, even if it’s as simple as reminding you to eat. You’d be surprised how many people will volunteer time to your campaign, Sternard said.