Politicians and school board ladies
After sitting on the fence for a while, I’ve decided that I’m going to vote for David Englin for the Democratic nomination for delegate. I like his policies and I like the energy that he’s bringing to the campaign, including reaching out beyond the "usual suspects" to try to engage more people in the process. (His campaign has also done a good job of staying on top of the internet discussion of the race; I wouldn’t be surprised if someone shows up at my doorstep with a campaign sign tomorrow afternoon.)
In thinking things over, I realized that some of my indecision in this race was driven by a prejudice against people who are confident enough, ambitious enough to run for office at a relatively young age. This is a common prejudice; Americans are very skeptical of career politicians. Going back to George Washington, there’s a long history of sucessful politicians who campaigned as just regular folks, reluctantly setting aside their "real" careers in order to serve. So I found Libby Garvey’s story of her journey from PTA mom to school board member to candidate for delegate compelling. But I was ultimately convinced by Shayna Englin’s argument that safe seats are where you build leaders for tomorrow.
A snide anonymous comment at Virginia2005 referring to Garvey as a "school district lady lol" made me think about the degree to which these different paths to political involvement are gendered. Debbie Wasserman Schultz aside, it is still almost unheard of for young women to run for political office. And yes, the PTA and the school board are the classic first steps in that direction for people who never imagined themselves as politicians. It was shrewd marketing for Sen. Patty Murray to describe herself as "just a mom in tennis shoes," but it worked because it was true.
May 28th, 2005 at 11:00 pm
Just wanted to post a quick note of thanks for your support — it really means a lot. Shayna and I — and dozens of committed grassroots volunteers — are working hard to build the party for the future so we can someday regain a majority and pass progressive policies that will really make a difference in people’s lives. We’re both glad to count you as part of that effort.
Best,
David
PS – Send me an email with your address and we’ll bring by a yard sign!
June 3rd, 2005 at 6:49 am
I’m sorry to read that you’re not voting for Garvey. She hasn’t had a new idea in years, and I have been hoping to magically get her off the School Board, where she’s been part of a back-biting stuck-in-the past clique which has given us a disastrous elementary school redistricting process AND a dreadful decision about Washington-Lee High School remodelling in just the last two years. And squandering basically the entire windfall of recent property tax increases on teacher raises (Arlington pays its teachers more than any other jurisdiction in NoVA) and ignoring the lagging pay of aides and maintenance/cleaning workers. Send her to Richmond where she can do less harm!
June 3rd, 2005 at 10:24 am
I have been pondering your comments on the gendered routes in politics, and don’t have so much a coherent theory as a few random thoughts:
On one level, I don’t get it. David and I have actually reversed traditional roles in this context – Since David got out of the Air Force, I have been the one working full time to pay the mortgage. David has been the primary parent to Caleb. I know that our marriage is somewhat unique as political families go – we both have a passion for Democratic politics, he more of a policy wonk than I am, I have more experience in and love for the campaign side of things, but we’re absolutely full partners in this endeavor – and that certainly has made it easier for us to balance David’s campaign with my career and parenting Caleb. Still, in many ways David’s role as primary parent to Caleb has freed him up to be the incredible candidate he is. Since young women more typically fill that role, I really don’t understand why so few of them are stepping in.
I think that part of it is related to the differing implications of ambition for young women versus young men. Ambitious, driven, and confident young men are received much more positively than young women who possess the same qualities. A quick glance through the blog comments on the Virginia 2005 HOD blog reveals some of that!
There are also very strong expectations for how young men and young women should parent their kids. I still experience very strongly the general expectation that my only priority in life right now should be Caleb, and that it’s a private responsibility – working to build a better world for him to grow up in doesn’t seem to count. I would expect that I would have a good many questions along the lines of, “but who’s going to take care of your son while you’re in Richmond?” if I were to run for office right now. David hasn’t had to answer that one even once.
It’s an interesting observation – thanks for bringing it up.