Why Are You Running for Office?

It’s a very simple question that a neighbor or a voter or a reporter might ask: Why are you running? Why do you want to be a state legislator (or county commissioner, or U.S. senator, or mayor)?

But for some reason, some candidates have a hard time answering that question clearly and forthrightly. Perhaps they don’t want to seem too bold or presumptuous. Perhaps they have never thought about how to put it into words.

Whatever the reason, they pause and stammer and sputter a bit. ...