Why Politics? The most meaningful change starts locally
Our “Why Politics?” series shares our team’s reflections on why politics is such an important form of service, and why each one of us commits ourselves to supporting and developing servant leaders each day. After reading what Jess has to say, check out the other posts in our series!
It’s been said that in politics, the most meaningful change happens at the local level. As someone who spends most of her days advising state and local candidates – and whose husband is a former city council hopeful – that statement rings true. The passion that I bring to this work was sparked in me at an early age and it all started right at home.
I grew up surrounded by family who instilled in me a deep appreciation for service and for civic engagement. My grandfather on my mother’s side served in World War II. When he came home, he planned to join his local police force, but he ended up being recruited by the CIA for his Polish and Russian language skills. Growing up, it was fun to tell people that my grandpa was a retired spy, but I knew the reality of his life and work was more about service than James Bond-style adventure. He was a warm, funny, man of integrity, who believed to his core that the founding principles of our country are important and worth protecting. He taught me that government service is among the most honorable things a person can do.
On my father’s side, my grandmother’s zeal for politics gave rise to some terrific kitchen-table conversations and inspired my own interest, long before I ever worked on a campaign. She was the one who convinced me to study political science in college -- and I’m so grateful she did, in part because that’s how I met my husband, David.
My first experience with the rigors of a political campaign was in 2015, when David ran for City Council in Somerville, Massachusetts. David’s race confirmed for me that campaigning is extremely difficult, but not always in the ways one would expect. Beyond the challenges of fundraising and organizing, it was often the physical aspects of campaign life that seemed the most grueling. We would spend hours outside canvassing, walking from house to house, block after block. On one summer day, David came home visibly drained after a full day of canvassing. He nearly collapsed from heat exhaustion. (We quickly learned to always, always, carry a water bottle!)
Other times, the challenge was more mental. I remember sitting with him on the T train one morning on our way to work. As we looked through our mutual to-do list, we both felt overwhelmed.
The pressure to make one more phone call and knock on one more door is a grind even for the most dedicated candidate. That’s why it’s so essential to have a firm understanding of your mission and values; to commit to them wholly throughout the campaign and regardless of which way the political winds blow, to stay true to them in the process.
Unfortunately, even if you do all the right things, it doesn’t always translate to a win. The best candidate and the best campaigns aren’t always the ones celebrating on election night. David lost in the preliminary election by just 30 votes. And while we were heartbroken at the time, it ended up serving as an inspiration for us in different ways. For me, it reminded me that I needed to fight for the values I’d grown up with and changed my entire career trajectory.
After that loss, I felt a calling to recommit to my own deeply rooted values. I decided that I wanted to dedicate my life to strengthening our country, and the campaign trail had shown me that one of the best ways to accomplish this was through serving our democracy. So, I left my job at a law firm and returned to graduate school to pursue a master’s in public administration.
My initial plan was to focus on public policy after I graduated. However, I quickly realized that even the most well-intentioned and perfectly-crafted policies would be ineffective without strong leaders to implement them. I understood that there will always be someone to fill a seat, but getting great public servants into office takes a movement.
After completing my MPA, I hit the ground running as a campaign manager – first for an incredible woman in a Massachusetts State Senate race, then for another impressive candidate for lieutenant governor.
In the years since, I’ve come to appreciate the important factors that distinguish successful campaigns from the unsuccessful. Among these are a strong support system, a commitment to values, resilience, and as with most things, the right timing. A person could be the most selfless and service-driven candidate, but sometimes it’s just not their time.
We desperately need people in office who are there for the right reasons—folks who lead with courage, integrity, and above all, a commitment to serving the public good. I spend my days proudly working with service candidates from all over the country because I’ve seen their leadership up close. I’ve seen them answer the call of service time and time again, and I’ve witnessed the outsized impact they can have with just the right amount of support.
And ultimately that’s what politics is all about – supporting one another. Supporting our communities and the most vulnerable among us. Supporting strangers and neighbors just as we would our friends and family. I do what I do because I was supported by a family who valued service, and because I was inspired by the change I witnessed during my husband’s campaign -- on the trail and at home.
Why politics? Because for me, the most meaningful change happens locally. It starts right at home.