The first day to file for the May primary is Jan. 20. Any Carroll County resident who thinks they want to be a leader, or who has the desire to be part of an elite group of individuals who can make a real difference for the good of all, should at this time be wondering just how to go about the job of getting elected.

Recognizing there is a need for education of possible candidates in this area (and recognizing the need for good qualified candidates from which voters can choose) Leadership Carroll County (LCC) is offering a free educational seminar about running for elected office. “Running for an Elected Office” will be held Nov. 19 from 7-9 p.m. in the Richter Room at the Flora-Monroe Public Library. It is free and open to the public.

A variety of current and former office holders will provide information-seekers with the methods that worked (and maybe some that did not work) for their successful campaigns. Information will be presented in an informal panel discussion sprinkled with anecdotal information that is sure to be down to earth and easy to understand.

Participants will hear from a former school board member, a new county commissioner and new county recorder, a not-so-new city council member and a mid-time county council member. The nonpartisan information will be invaluable for the person who is trying to decide if running for an elected position is what they want to do.

LCC has a long history of providing value-educational programs for their graduates (all 112 of them), but planners are not stopping with that group this time. This seminar is open to anyone in the county. From that person who wants to explore the possibility of running to the person who ran once and failed to the person who has been an office holder and might want to jump back into the fray and serve just one more time!

This seminar will be a wonderful opportunity for prospective candidates to test the political waters with no more commitment than to listen and learn!