A panel of current and past county leaders provided preparatory advice to residents who may be interested in running for public office at a Thursday night program hosted by Leadership Carroll County. Panelists Pat Clawson, Carolyn Pearson, Ann Brown, Mary Ann Burton and Bill Pickart discussed personal experiences as candidates who have run for office. They answered questions from moderator Todd Ladd as well as audience members.

“We all have to work together to live in Carroll County,” began Ladd. “And let’s face it – we need good leaders.”

All of the panelists, those who have been in office for some time and those who are relatively new to the political arena, expressed being connected to their communities and doing volunteer work as a common theme. Brown referred to herself as “a professional volunteer” after retiring from owning two businesses in Flora. Clawson said he was a business person and a volunteer firefighter without an agenda.

“This is just what I do,” he said. “I am able to look at things in a very practical way. I will talk to anyone.”

Pearson said she is not “a typical politician” having served on the Delphi City Council for 22 years after providing volunteer services to the community as well as raising her children as a stayat home mother.

Panelists urged those inclined to run for office to do so because it gives the voters a choice at the polls. They all agreed that running for office is a learning experience that can cost as much or as little as the candidate wants to spend.

The consensus of the panel is that holding an elected office is a public service. It is expected office holders be as available as much as possible to those they serve.

“You have to be willing to serve people any way you can,” Burton, who has an office in the courthouse, advised.

“You have to understand that serving the public is work,” Brown said. “And you always have to keep the taxpayers in mind when you are weighing options.”

“I ran for kids and taxpayers,” Pickart, who served on the Carroll School Board for 28 years, said. “Keep in mind, you are not going to please everybody.”

“You’re not going to get rich doing this,” Clawson added. “No matter what district you represent, you have to look at how your decision will affect the whole county.”

Ladd asked, “What makes elected officials effective?” to which the panel in virtual unison replied, “Honesty!” and shared thoughts about how to be an effective leader.

“Keep in mind, the easiest thing is to say ‘yes’,” Pickart said. “It is hard to say no.”

“Keep yourself educated,” Brown said. “You know how to meet the challenge when you are educated about the issue.”

“Learning is the reward that comes from running and serving,” Pickart added.

Brown warned possible first-time candidates about a campaign pitfall to avoid.

“Don’t make campaign promises because you really don’t know enough to promise anything!” she concluded.

Republican Party chair Penny Titus and Democratic chair Denise Strasser were introduced. Both recommended those interested in running for an office contact the head of the party they are registered in to gain valuable insight and to learn what the organized party has to offer them.