Run for office Change comes through new faces
The Fayette County NAACP participated this month in the national drive to sign up new members. One of organization’s goals is to spur people, of any color, to become more active citizens by registering and then voting. That’s a fine first step, but until the faces that gather around school board and municipal meetings start changing from predominantly white men, the other issues that the NAACP would like to work to improve will be all that more difficult.The local chapter must remain nonpartisan. It can, as it recently began to do, host registration drives and candidate forums. It can’t actively run candidates for office.
But that doesn’t mean that some other organization, such as the East End Community group or even individuals can’t rise to the challenge.
This is a local election year, when many seats on school boards, borough councils, township supervisors are up. Too often people are under the false impression that it takes a lot of money to run for office. Not so, for local positions. It takes time and energy to go out and meet and talk to people. And perhaps a few signs. It takes ideas and a willingness to dare to challenge the incumbents. It takes the guts to risk losing and even more courage to face winning.
Now is the time to be out circulating nominating petitions that can be picked up at the Fayette County Election Bureau, along with the list of rules for running for office.
If you want improvements to your neighborhood or your schools, you have a civic obligation to work for them whether by running for office or supporting someone who shares your views.