Have you ever thought about running for political office? You might not be interested in the common ones like Congress or Governor, and maybe making laws in the legislature isn’t your cup of tea. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t a political job that’s right for you!
In fact, some of the most intriguing elected offices are ones that few have even heard of, and one of them might be a surprisingly good fit for you. We’ll skip the commonly known stuff here and focus on some of the more obscure ones, just for fun.
Here are Five Fast Facts on elected offices you may not know about:
- 🧮State Offices - Aside from the usual offices, most states elect commissioners (or boards of commissioners) to oversee things like insurance, wildlife, agriculture, forestry, and so on. This is usually related to geographical or economic features of the state, and things the state really wants to nurture, protect, or grow. A lot of states also have elected auditors to make sure the books are kept up and correct. Number nerds, this one's for you!
- 🏫👮⚰️Local Offices - Local elected offices have a surprisingly large impact on most people’s everyday lives and should NOT be ignored! School boards, sheriffs, county prosecutors, and judges are all on the front lines of life in our society, and they have a significant impact on our communities – good or bad! Local elected offices also include coroners (coming next fall: CSI Yourtownville!), zoning and planning, and public works. These guide the growth and development of towns and cities and often determine what gets built where (or not). Calling all control freaks; we’ve found your job!…
- 🚆🛢️Texas Railroad Commissioner - One really interesting example of an obscure yet powerful elected office is the Texas Railroad Commissioner. Started in the 1890s, it originally regulated railroads but was expanded to include energy. Until the 1970s it actually drove global oil prices until OPEC came onto the scene. Despite its name it doesn’t have anything to do with railroads anymore, but it’s still key in domestic energy production policy. Maybe they should rename it to Domestic Oil Baron Guy.
- 🧾📒California State Controller - This office oversees over 1,000 employees and has extensive audit authority over state and local governments in California. Since CA has the fifth largest economy in the world, this is no small thing! Interestingly, the role is explicitly given the authority to defy orders from the governor. So, if you’re a number nerd looking for anarchy and chaos, this might be the best place to go…?
- 🐕🦟🐄They’re Everywhere! - Elected local offices are everywhere, if you’re willing to look. There’s North Carolina’s Registers of Deeds, Vermont’s Dog Catcher, mosquito control boards in Florida. These are ideal for candidates who love documentation, love animals, and hate mosquitos. Some would argue these might not be exactly crucial to the functioning of society, but hey, anything that increases participation in the democratic process is good, right? Bonus fun fact: the Livestock Agent job on Paramount’s hit TV show Yellowstone is based on a real job! Sure, they “Hollywood-ized” it a bit, but for the most part it’s a real thing. Cowboys, there’s hope for you, too, so lasso up and get out there!
🔥Bottom line: Elected offices aren’t just for the elite. In fact, most of these positions are filled by normal people like me and you. Every state, county, and city has their own unique flavors and offices, so your opportunities vary depending on where you live. They probably won’t give you big Paychecks, but they might pay you a bit and they will give you a unique view into the life of a public servant.
So, whether you throw your hat in the ring yourself or not, just educate yourself on what these elected offices do and why they’re important. Then make sure you get your keister to the polling place on Election Day and VOTE!
Guess what, the President isn’t going to solve your local problems. That’s a job for YOUR local & state government (and maybe YOU)! So here’s three small things you can do that make a BIG impact:
